All What I Want is Life

In 2019, the region experienced many demonstrations spanning the Arab world, each expressing a desire for a better future. “All What I Want is Life”, a phrase echoed on the streets of Baghdad and scrawled across walls in the city, is an exhibition of images, video, and writings from these demonstrations.

Featuring Myriam Boulos, Tamara Abdul Hadi & Roï Saade from Lebanon; Amir Hazim and Abdullah Dhiaa-Al-Deen from Iraq; Lana Haroun and Salih Basheer from Sudan; and Fethi Sahraoui and Abdo Shanan from Algeria⏤this exhibition aims to highlight the similarities as well as the individual character of each locale’s demonstrations.

“All What I Want is Life” poses questions around the power of the image in communicating these events, and highlights a shift in perspective away from images that simply capture what transpired, towards one that also invites the viewer to engage in a discourse that elevates photojournalism beyond the recount.

The exhibition will open closely alongside “Slidefest: Counter-narratives”, an opportunity for established and upcoming photographers from the region to present projects in front of a live audience and engage with the viewer. This edition will focus on projects deemed contrary to popular portrayal of subjects and themes.