A time to record
Photography exhibition catalogues disappearing architectural icons in the war-ravaged corners of the Middle East.
TAKE a picture, it lasts longer.
This is becoming an increasingly true statement for the historic sites in the troubled parts of the Middle East now.
The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM), in an effort to catalogue these disappearing architectural icons and to educate the public, has put together a photography exhibition called Syria, Iraq, Yemen: The Risk Of Forever Being Lost.
Rekha Verma, IAMM’s head of collections, says the project started nearly two years ago with an idea but no images.
As an avid user of image hosting site Flickr, she reached out to photographers, journalists and locals who were recording images of mosques, bazaars and relics in these war-torn countries.
“We tried to reach out to news agencies, but found their rates too pricey, especially considering it was for a non-profit project. Luckily some photojournalists were kind enough to share from their personal collections,” says Rekha.
The Syria, Iraq, Yemen: The Risk Of Forever Being Lost project is also supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and embassies from the subject countries.
Margherita D’Ascanio, ICRC Regional Legal Advisor, during her talk Protection Of Cultural Property In Armed Conflict: What Can We Do? at IAMM, reminds us that international humanitarian law prohibits direct attacks and theft of cultural property.
Unfortunately, there are no rules during times of war and conflict. Some are driven to destroy ancient sites and to literally wipe history away, while opportunists pillage sites for treasures to sell in the international black market.
ICRC has actively collected architectural plans, made photographic documentation and videos to archive and possibly rebuild these fallen cities.
During an interview in the gallery, Rekha walked through the exhibit of some 70 photos explaining how the show is divided into four sections: Religious Edifices, Commercial Structures, Social Dwellings and Historical Monuments.
At the exhibition, a striking photograph of a rusted tank beside a mosque in Azaz, Syria, and the devastating aftermath of the 1,800-year-old Arch of Triumph, destroyed by Isis in the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra in 2015, are the images to capture beauty lost.
The works at the exhibition attempt to record the before and after destruction and recollect the memories.
Through this approach, Rekha created a storyline of how war affects all areas of life, destroying ancient and holy sites, homes and markets.
The lost cultural heritage is pronounced in most of these works, notably with bombed out mosques still playing a vital role in community, as a place of shelter. Amid the destruction, there are still places to gather and trade. In short, life goes on.
Syria, Iraq, Yemen: The Risk Of Forever Being Lost photo exhibition is showing at the Open Space Gallery, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Jalan Lembah Perdana in Kuala Lumpur till March 30. Open daily, 10am to 6pm. Free admission to the Open Space Gallery. Visit: www.iamm.org.my.