Exploring the megacity at East Wing this autumn

BANGLADESH, Dhaka, New Market, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2011 Photo: Martin Roemers

Just over a century ago 13% of the world’s population lived in urban centres; the United Nations predicts that by the year 2050, close to 6 billion people or 75% of the global population, are expected to be concentrated in cities. The UN has also designated that 28 of these cities now meet their threshold of what constitutes a ‘megacity’, defined as urban areas with more than 10 million inhabitants.

Globally, one in eight of us now live in a megacity and Dutch photographer Martin Roemers has long been fascinated by the vibrant energy and mix of cultures living amidst this chaos. For his series Metropolis, he travelled to 22 megacities across five continents and they are all going on show in Dubai’s East Wing gallery next month.

Roemers will also be in town for this exhibition and giving what is bound to be a fascinating talk on Wednesday September 7 at 7pm.

For more info visit: www.east-wing.org or www.martinroemers.com