The Department of Visual and Interior Design at the College of Architecture organized a panel discussion titled “Environmental Critique and the Lens: Photography as a Sensory Practice”, featuring guest speaker photographer Aziz Al-Mutawa. The session took place on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the College of Architecture building in Adailiya Campus.
During the session, Aziz Al-Mutawa showcased his photographic work and research, which focuses on mudflats in Kuwait, reflecting on how industrial, personal, and environmental elements intertwine through the lens of his camera. He also discussed the latest techniques for photographing ecological areas in ways that deliberately decentralize the human element.
Al-Mutawa shared key tips, techniques, and sources of inspiration that photographers can draw on when capturing such environments, highlighting the importance of perspective in creating expressive and thought-provoking images. He elaborated on the concept of “embodied environmental critique” as an approach to understanding the dynamic relationship between the photographer and their surroundings.
The discussion emphasized a new dimension of photography—not merely as a process of image-making, but as a practice that reshapes how we perceive and interact with our environment.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A segment, which witnessed active participation from attendees.