The Alliance Française in Canberra is hosting an exhibition showcasing a selection of the best works in the photography competition organised by the Foundation Alliance française.

"We play to enjoy ourselves, to pass the time, but also to learn, to defeat, to win money, to tempt fate or to scare ourselves. Games are a powerful expression of human nature and cultural diversities."

- Jean-Claude Jacq, Foundation Alliance française -

In 2014, the theme ‘On joue sur la Terre’ (’We play on Earth’) inspired amateur artists from 66 countries to participate in this worldwide photography competition. After carefully examining all the works received, a professional jury (photographers, curators, journalists, etc.) selected 45 photographs that are now exhibited around the world, from one Alliance Française to another.

"A world that practices the art of playing is a living and an evolving world."

- Françoise Huguier, photograper for Agence Vu and President of the jury -

Individual and collective games have always existed throughout History. Men have never stopped to play; from childhood to adulthood. Games are powerful expressions of the human nature and cultural diversity. But does play still have a place in our society? This exhibition showcases games in their various social and cultural functions (board games, video games, outdoor games, children’s games, sporting events, etc.). It also gives us the opportunity to learn about the evolution of how people play games all around the world.

This exhibition consists of some of the best photographs of the 2014 Photo Contest of the Foundation Alliance Française that illustrate the theme "We play on Earth.”

The Foundation Alliance française photography competition

The Foundation Alliance française, based in Paris, is the organisation that federates the 810 Alliances françaises in the  world. The Foundation is proud to present the 4th edition of the international photo contest “On joue sur la Terre”. This  contest was organized in partnership with the French newspaper Courrier International. Amateur photographers at 134  Alliances françaises in 66 countries participated in the 4^th edition of this international photo contest.

After the deliberation in January, 1st Prize was awarded to Omar Jimenez Gonzalez, selected by the Alliance Française in  Guadalajara. His prize included a one week stay in Paris and a solo exhibition at the Arcturus Gallery in Paris in June 2014.

The top 5 photographers who were offered a 1 year subscription to the magazine PHOTO are:

• Omar Gonzalez Jimenez - AF Guadalajara (Mexico)
• Hiroshi Imai - AF Sendai (Japan)
• Elisa Donato - AF Cagliari (Italy)
• Pedro Luis Iriarte Irungaray - AF Guatemala City (Guatemala)
• Manjit Singh Hoonjan - AF Bengal Calcutta (India)