The BRICS Universe International Photo Exhibition was opened at the BRICS Youth Summit

On 25 July 2024, the BRICS Universe International Photo Exhibition was opened in Ulyanovsk. The photo exhibition epitomizes creative cooperation between BRICS member states and demonstrates unity through the art of photography.

Ulyanovsk was the seventh city, following Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rio de Janeiro, Kargopol, Beijing, and Nizhny Novgorod in hosting the international photography exhibition which features iconic locations in the BRICS UNESCO creative cities network. The photos were taken by Russia’s cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Ivan Vagner from the International Space Station, and by photographers on the Earth. In total, the project involves 48 Russian and 41 international photographers.

Cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov came to Ulyanovsk to open the exhibition. Other attendees included Artyom Miroshnikov, Ulyanovsk Region Minister for Youth Development, the project’s creators, personnel of the Creative Industries Foundation of the Ulyanovsk Region, of Nizhny Novgorod’s Planetarium, and Dmitry Sandimirov, an Ulyanovsk photographer.

Young leaders from BRICS member states attending the BRICS Youth Summit held in Ulyanovsk on 22–26 July were the first to visit the exhibition. Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Head of the UAE Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, also came to the exhibit. On 2 March – 4 September 2023, Sultan al Neyadi flew on the SpaceX Crew-6 mission.

“The BRICS Universe is not merely a collection of photographs. It is a visual tale of the multi-faceted world of BRICS, of its culture, history, people and achievements. Each photograph is a story inviting audiences on a wonderful journey around the BRICS states,” stressed Hero of the Russian Federation Sergey Kud-Sverchkov.

“It is so incredible that we have such photo exhibitions showing us these amazing places and unique sights from BRICS countries all in one place, in one’s own city or country. I really hope this project will develop further and, next year, the exhibition will be held in the UAE,” Sultan Al Neyadi said.

The BRICS Universe International Photo Exhibition will stay in Ulyanovsk until 15 September and then will travel on to Mumbai (India).

The BRICS Universe International Photo Exhibition was made possible through a partnership between the Georgy Grechko Planetarium in Nizhny Novgorod, the Roscosmos State Corporation, the Ulyanovsk Region Ministry for Youth Development and the Russia–BRICS Project Office for International Youth Cooperation, with support from the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. The project, implemented under the auspices of the Commission of the Russian Federation for UNESCO, has been inluded in the calendar of events as part of Russia’s 2024 BRICS Chairship, which are organized by the Roscongress Foundation.