Bearing Witness
The extraordinary photo exhibition Bearing Witness can be seen from July 2 until August 16 in the Atrium City Hall. Bearing Witness is a collection of unique pictures taken by world-renowned photojournalists and changemakers: Muhammed Muheisen, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, and Howard G. Buffett, Chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. They will take visitors on a visual journey of 40 untold stories spanning 25 years from different parts of the world. Through this exhibition, they want to create more awareness, change stereotypes, and raise the voices of those photographed.
Bearing Witness is a visual journey of moments in time, that shows life amid chaos, the destruction, the human misery, and the resilience of those caught in the midst of it. Even in the middle of conflict, life never stops; it keeps going. Life goes on. These photographs are never just pictures: they are voices, messages, and testimonies that live forever.
"Behind my photographs, there are people who were forced to leave their homes and hopes, their families and memories behind and go search for a new, safe home. As nobody leaves their home unless they are forced to leave their homes," according to Muhammed Muheisen.
"At times, I find myself uncomfortable by the tragedies I’ve seen and photographed. When I am behind my lens, I remind myself of the importance of documenting what I am witnessing, and that those images can change hearts and minds. This is my emotional coping mechanism in real time," said Howard G. Buffett.
Bearing Witness Touring European Capitals
After successful exhibitions in Athens, Greece last December and in Amsterdam in March, Bearing Witness now comes to the international city of peace and justice, The Hague. The exhibition is open to the public at Sociëteit De Witte on June 22nd and 23rd and at the Atrium of The Hague City Hall from July 2 until August 16. Afterwards, the exhibition will travel on to Bucharest.
Muhammed Muheisen
Muhammed Muheisen is a world-renowned photographer. A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner, a National Geographic photojournalist and Explorer, founder and chairman of the Dutch non-profit organization Everyday Refugees Foundation, Global Ambassador for Jordan Tourism Board and Canon. Muheisen was named TIME Magazine's Best Wire Photographer of 2013. Since 2001, he has documented major events around the world and for over a decade and a half, the refugee crises in various parts of the world. In 2023, Muheisen received the prestigious National Geographic Wayfinder Award.
Currently, the documentary ‘Finding the Light’ about Muhammed Muheisen’s life and achievements from the National Geographic documentary series ‘Photographer’ is available on Disney+ and Hulu.
Howard G. Buffett
Howard G. Buffett is a photographer, farmer, conservationist, businessman, former elected official, former Sheriff, and Chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, a private charitable foundation investing in global food security, conflict mitigation, and efforts to counter human trafficking.
Over the years, Howard G. Buffett has been recognized for his leadership and contributions to agriculture, conservation, philanthropy, and journalism, including receiving the highest honors bestowed on a foreign citizen by the governments of Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Rwanda, and Ukraine for his work in each country
Organisatie Exhibition Everyday Refugees Foundation
Everyday Refugees Foundation is a Dutch non-profit organization based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Our mission is to document, educate, help and empower refugees, local communities and internally displaced people by war, poverty, natural disasters and discrimination in different parts of the world.
Through our projects and campaigns we raise awareness about the issues and the challenges they face, opening people’s eyes and hearts to the situation worldwide. Furthermore, through these projects we encourage you to get involved either by donating to a project, other future projects or through volunteer work.