Hadi Rahnaward and Ali Mirzayee
- Le Couvent des Dominicains, Lille
- Gratuit
Exhibition at the Couvent des Dominicains
As part of the Latitudes Contemporaines festival, discover an exhibition by Hadi Rahnaward and Ali Mirzayee at the Couvent des Dominicains.
Hadi Rahnaward is a multi-disciplinary Afghan artist who works in video, drawing, installation and performance. His work is based on mediums rooted in time: through processes of repetition, he depicts contemporary Afghan history as a vicious circle of self-repeating absurdities. For Latitudes Contemporaines, he will present his 2021 video Captivity.
Ali Mirzayee is a photographer. Born in Bamyan, Afghanistan, he brings us the cultural richness and natural beauty of his native region, through photographic work that shows the resilience and vitality of its inhabitants. Both live and work in Lille.
Exhibition open from June 6 to 27, Thursday to Sunday, 2.30 pm to 6 pm. Free admission.
REGARDS SUR BAMYAN, Ali Mirzayee
“I am Mohammad Ali MIRZAYEE, born and raised in the ancient and heritage-rich region of Bamyan in Afghanistan. My journey into photography began with the simple desire to capture the breathtaking natural beauty of my homeland. However, as I dug deeper, I realized that the true beauty of Afghanistan lies not only in its landscapes but in its people and the rich culture passed down from generation to generation, much of which is intimately linked to nature itself.
Living in the central highlands, where rugged mountains carve the horizon and harsh winters allow only one harvest season, I witnessed first-hand the simplicity and hardships of life here. People, often cut off from modern conveniences, rely on basic tools to survive, their lives a testament to resilience and strength. My photographs aim to present these realities, blending the raw facts of everyday life with an artistic touch. When I look through the lens, into the eyes of those I photograph, I see the deep-rooted love and care that sustains them through difficult times.
Having lived through the worst impacts of four decades of conflict in Afghanistan, I understand all too well how misinformation and rumors can fuel divisions. As a child, I tasted the bitter impact of such conflicts. For me, photography is more than just a profession, it’s a powerful tool for bridging divisions. It shows us that beneath the surface, we are all the same, equally shaped by the conflicts that have torn our land apart.
Through my lens, I hope to convey that our true beauty lies in the recognition and acceptance of our differences. I want my photos to be a celebration of who we are, together, in all our diversity and complexity. Here’s to seeing and accepting ourselves as we are – imperfect, diverse and beautifully human.”
Biography(s)
Hadi Rahnaward
Hadi Rahnaward was born in Wardak province of Afghanistan and grew up in Kabul, the country’s capital. He received his bachelor’s in fine arts from Kabul University and his master’s in Art and Design Studies from BeaconHouse National University in Lahore, Pakistan. Sociopolitical changes in his homeland profoundly influenced Rahnaward’s journey as an artist. His works focus on themes such as the vicious cycle, displacement of values, and captivity, drawing inspiration from individual and collective narratives.
Rahnaward’s childhood memories of conflict and the battlefield stretch back to witnessing his uncle’s drawings depicting the fighting between Mujahideen and the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. These sketches were his first exposure to art, sparking a passion that led him to pursue a career in the field. Through his art, Rahnaward reflects on Afghanistan’s ongoing insecurity and wars, viewing it as a powerful medium for expressing collective social and political understanding.
Mohammad Ali Mirzayee
He was born in Bamyan in 1999. He graduated from the Department of Tourism at Bamyan University. In 2014, Mirzayee took up photography and filmmaking and has since worked for Rowzana Film Production and Baba Arts and Culture Organization as a photographer and cameraman. He also won first place in the 2018 photography competition launched by the US Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. His photos have been exhibited in many prestigious exhibitions such as L’UNESCO, UNICEF and APA. Mirzayee was part of the Rowzana team whose video won first place in the “My City World Competition 2017” organized by UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, with the city of Bamyan taking first place.
