On Thursday 17th November 2022, the latest ‘Faces of Kabul’ installation opened at Glenurquhart Library, Drumnadrochit, in the heart of Highland close to Loch Ness. This was an opportunity to reach the wider community of all ages, many of whom had not been able to visit it whilst it was presented at Eden Court in Inverness.
The installation, funded and supported by High Life Highland, the Ward Councillors and the Library was opened by Cllr Chris Ballance and Cllr David Fraser, at a launch event attended by students from Glenurquhart High School and invited guests.
‘This is an exhibition of stunning images of a generation moving from fear to hope. It features first rate photography taken just at the start of the liberation of Afghanistan. I hope it encouraged the young people present to see the connections between them and young people the other side of the world, as well as encouraging the older members of the community to create artwork inspired by it.’
I was delighted to be involved. Thank you to everyone involved in organising it.
Cllr Chris Ballance, Green Councillor for Aird and Loch Ness
‘The photos in this exhibition tell an amazing story, both individually and collectively. It is great that the exhibition is moving around the Highlands and so many people get the opportunity to visit it. The engagement with the pupils demonstrated to me the importance and power of the Faces of Kabul in helping our communities to relate to world events.’
Cllr David Fraser, Independent Councilor for Aird and Loch Ness
Sitakumari presented the background to the story, how the assignment was arranged, some of the challenges faced in setting this up in Afghanistan with ISAF, the International Security Assistance Force – the NATO-led peacekeeping mission made up of several nations including Britain, so close after 9/11, how the world had changed at the time, including Islamophobia which had increased in the following months, why the international community had intervened, and recording what was taking shape in the country honestly with truth and integrity. She then took the audience round the installation highlighting specific images and the story they capture, including girls going back to school and women in professional roles for the first time, forbidden under Taliban rule, rebuilding homes, schools, images capturing resilience and hope, providing a route to explore what is happening now in the context of what had started taking shape then.
‘It was a privilege for us at Glenurquhart Library to host the ‘Faces of Kabul’ exhibition installation. It is a thought provoking collection of images exploring themes which are all the more poignant now that the Taliban have retaken power in Afghanistan. Sita’s talk brought the stories of the individuals in the photos to life and showed us that people from different cultures have more in common than divides them. It was a wonderful opportunity for the library to bring in pupils from the local school and community groups.’
Meg Davidson, Librarian
The installation moves to Inverness Library from 6th-19th December as its next stop on its journey across Highland.
Our grateful thanks to the librarians and staff at Glenurquhart Library, the Councillors and High Life Highland for ensuring this installation could take shape.
