Rania Matar received the Leica Women Foto Project Award for her new project “Where Do I go” ( لوين روح ) with an accompanying exhibition at Fotografiska, New York.
She presents the project as follow.
“Where Do I Go? (Lawen Ruh لوين روح)
The past 2 years have been extremely difficult in Lebanon, starting with the 2019 uprising protesting corruption and inflation, to the coronavirus and months of lockdown that proved disastrous for the country, and finally to the August 4, 2020 Port of Beirut explosions, that caused further catastrophic damage. The country has been spiraling into the abyss since, with shortages of cash, gas, electricity, medicine, and water.
During recent trips to Lebanon, I found hope and inspiration through the younger generation of women. Instead of focusing on the destruction, I found myself in awe of them, their creativity, strength, beauty, and resilience. I felt a sense of urgency in collaborating with them and creating the stage together to tell their story – our collective story.
They inspire me.
I saw graffiti on the wall that said in Arabic: “Where do I go” (lawen ruh)? These women are at that crossroad. Where do they go? I was their age when I left Lebanon in 1984 during the Civil War.
This project is for them and for us: the ones who are staying and the ones who have left.
I am deeply honored to have received the Leica Women Foto Project Award that will allow me to continue this work.
Rania Matar
www.raniamatar.com
Leica Women Foto Project
The Bind of Humanity
March 8 – April 17, 2022
Fotografiska New York
281 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010
https://www.fotografiska.com/nyc/
https://www.fotografiska.com/nyc/exhibitions/leica-women-foto-project/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leica-camera-usa-announces-3rd-annual-leica-women-foto-project-award-winners–mentees-301497274.html
