Stories, News, Articles and Galleries reflecting our collection
The beautiful and colorful Iranian city of Isfahan (also known as Esfahan) sits on the north bank of the Zayandeh River, roughly 210 miles south of Tehran, the capital of Iran. The city of Isfahan is one of the most important centers of architecture in the Islamic world. Its famous Maydan-e Emam (Imam’s Square) was designated a […]
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‘Church architecture describes visually the idea of the sacred, which is a fundamental need of man.’ Mario Botta (Architect) Architecture does not teach us what the sacred is, but it may touch it and draw others to it. Its responsibility to the sacred is, therefore, truly solemn. Architecture interprets holiness and offers it to the […]
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In July 2005 the Old Bridge and Old City section of the historic town of Mostar were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Mostar, a city of more than 110,000 people located in southern Bosnia and Herzogovina, was first developed during the 15th and 16th centuries as an Ottoman frontier town. The town is named after its […]
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Throughout France and elsewhere in Europe, many gothic-inspired structures and cathedrals feature gargoyles adorning their exteriors. Gargoyles are often fearsome, fantastical, and humorous and were originally included in gothic architectural design to serve two purposes – to scare off evil spirits and as waterspouts directing water drainage away from the structure. Curiously, no two gargoyles are […]
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Desirey Minkoh, the owner of Gabon based UIG image partner AfrikImages provides a fascinating insight into the Ngontang mask and dance and the Fang ethnic group. “Ngontang”, which in the Fang language from which it derives its origins means “the white girl”, is a mask with several faces that represents the spirits in the form […]
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Thanks to our focus on educational subjects, UIG has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Encyclopaedia Britannica, helping them curate and manage the Image Quest online educational image database, a global product that is offered to individual schools, educational authorities, and ministries. The product is licensed under a subscription model and students and teachers access […]
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UIG contributing partner Majority World’s collection features the work of photographers from Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. The talented contributing photographers for Majority World provide impactful and stunning images of their local cultures, helping to build a deep archive of important topics from outside North America and Europe. Majority World was formed in […]
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From the solemnity of Christmas to the raucousness of New Year’s, revelers of tradition and colorful festivals turn their attention to carnival season. While the ancient origins of carnival celebrations suggest they were timed as New Year’s festivals, the modern-day carnival evolved to be more closely associated with the beginning of Lent. The Roman Catholic liturgical calendar […]
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By Francesca Lungarotti The color red’s history is as rich and meaningful as the color itself. Red was the first color developed for painting and dying. It symbolized the religious contrast between the blood of Christ and the fires of Hell, and as far back as the Middle Ages, red was associated with love, lust, and anger. […]
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The two pillars of Godong’s photographic archive are “God” and “NGO’s”. The French agency’s comprehensive religious collection features aesthetic and educational photography covering the world’s major faiths as well as religious icons, traditions, events and notable persons. Godong complements its religious coverage with a focus on the developing world, thanks to its partnerships with several NGO’s. At […]
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