9 Comments
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Nicole Straus's avatar

Rania Matar’s work has always been so meaningful to me, and you have illuminated it beautifully Jean!

Jean Dykstra's avatar

Thank you so much, Nicole!

Sujatha Subramanian's avatar

Thank you for this beautiful piece and for sharing Matar’s gorgeous portraits. It made me think that we can never leave home behind whether we leave by choice or by force.

Afonso Salcedo's avatar

Matar’s photos are stunning. I love the collaborative element of the subjects choosing where they wanted to be photographed. That turns the location into a statement rather than a backdrop. The woman on the pile of rubble isn't just in a ruin, she's also claiming it in a way.

I'm been working on documenting Portugal and keep coming back to this question of how subjects position themselves in relation to the places that shaped them, but haven’t done portraits yet in this way. Great inspiration as the project evolves :)

Thank you for sharing!

Jean Dykstra's avatar

Great point about how the woman on the pile of rubble is claiming it. Thanks for reading and commenting, Alfonso.

Elin Spring's avatar

What an incisive and empathic discussion of Matar's important, (distressingly) timely work in "Where Do I Go?"

Jean Dykstra's avatar

Thank you so much, Elin! I love her work, and I loved the beautiful piece you did on her as well.

Vincent Cianni's avatar

Thank you! Very sensitive and incisive essay I met Rania in 1998 at Houston FotoFest in Texas. From the very first time I met her, I have been touched by her work. It is an essential part of our understanding of Lebanon and the Middle East.

Rania Matar's avatar

Thank you so much dearest Jean for this beautiful review. I am honored, and very moved by your words, especially as Lebanon is living through very difficult time.