On 29 April 2025, the Centre on Conflict, Development and Peacebuilding (CCDP), in collaboration with the fab and a group of local photographers, hosted the vernissage of In Transition, a striking photography exhibition that will be on display at the Fab (Maison de la paix, Petal 2, 4th floor) until 9 May.
The exhibition is the result of a photography meet-up initiated by Eric Malherbe via a WhatsApp group, between Geneva-based photographers who have gathered every Saturday for over three years to document the rhythms of International Geneva. This project, In Transition, emerged as a shared exploration of movement, identity, and the emotional states of transformation that mark its diverse landscape.
Curated around themes of temporariness and transformation, from blurred motion to quiet stillness, each work challenges the viewer to consider the experience of change—personal, political, and urban. The opening event drew an engaged and diverse audience, including students, artists, professionals, and members of the broader International Geneva community. Jennifer Thornquest, Research Assistant at the CCDP, moderated a lively and informal conversation with several of the exhibiting photographers, who shared their inspirations and experiences beyond photography. The debates included the exhibition’s deeper exploration of photographic authorship and intentionality—reflecting the age-old question of “taking” versus “making” a photograph.
Among them, Asim Khan, a technology professional and self-described technologist-photographer, presented work from his Covid Pandemic Documentary series—a haunting chronicle of global urban stillness captured through webcams. Abdulla Ibrahim, CCDP Senior Researcher, spoke about street photography as a meditative counterbalance to his work on political violence and peacebuilding.
Francine Guillard reflected on the tension between the mundane and the profound in everyday city life, while Vincenzo Chiochia discussed capturing motion through blur, and how the evolution from analog to AI-generated photography challenges our notions of realism and art. Giampaolo Bianchi further reflected the importance of imperfection in photography to preserving authenticity.
Though unable to attend, Linda Chengeta’s photojournalistic work portraying a subject in personal transition resonated deeply with the audience, with her mother in attendance and offering an emotional tribute to the storytelling power of Linda’s lens.
In Transition is a testament to the creative energy found at the intersection of art, technology, and social inquiry. It offers not only compelling visual narratives but also thoughtful commentary on how we see—and move through—our rapidly changing world.
