The ‘Faces of Kabul’ installation opened at Inverness Central Library on 7th December 2022 after a successful presentation at Caol Library in October, and then moved to Ullapool Library to open on 9th February 2023.
At Inverness Central, above from right to left, Sitakumari with special guests Cllr Elizabeth McAllister, Julie Corcoran – Head of Libraries, High Life Highland, Alpha Munro – a key member of the Heartstone ‘Faces of Kabul’ team who had helped secure the Creative Scotland funding for its development, and Paula Chapman, Inverness Librarian, who had helped put up the installation in the library.
The library provided an excellent community space, once again, ensuring the photostory reached local communities who would not have had the chance to see it whilst it was at Eden Court. With the continuing changes in Afghanistan, particularly in the context of girls and women, the exhibition remains timely.
Sitakumari (right) points out one of the exhibition highlights, the woman in the white hijab.
During the period the installation was presented at the Library, visits from secondary schools including Inverness High School took place and an online event was attended by photography students at Inverness Royal Academy and other special guests.
The installation ensures the exhibition with its powerful messages continues to reach a wide audience, particularly grassroots communities and all age groups. From Inverness Central it was moved on to Ullapool in the north west.
Ullapool Community Library is situated in Ullapool High School and its theatre space provided an ideal setting for an opening event to introduce the exhibition and how it came into being to students and special guests. Cllr Isabelle Campbell, Vice Convenor of Highland Council and one of the Ward Councillors opened the event and spoke of her own connection with Afghan refugees who have arrived in Highland.
She spoke of the importance of seeing the world through a different lens, which helps us to stop taking things, which may seem very ordinary everyday activities in our context, such as going to school or women going to work, for granted. She also spoke of the importance of not manufacturing a story, of integrity and honesty when capturing a ‘moment of time’, the importance of learning from history and the value of this story today.
She spoke of the need for everyone to care about what is happening in the world around us, to build empathy, understanding and to see the common humanity, not to see people as ’the other’ and not to build prejudice/intolerance/hate. Some of the people who fled Afghanistan in 2021 were interpreters, teachers and other professionals and she spoke of the Afghan refugees she had personally helped to re-settle in the Highlands giving her a unique insight.
She thanked Evelyn Irvine at Ullapool Library, Lesley Strachan at Ullapool High School for having organised the installation and event, Ward Councillors and High Life Highland for making it possible.
Sitakumari then presented some of the stories behind the images and how the ‘special access’ had been secured at what was a unique period of time in which extraordinary changes were taking shape and which would have impact well into the future. The photo story allows the audience to step into a world they may feel is totally ‘alien’ to them but to discover in fact it is not – we can ‘feel’ with the people in the pictures, they are not that ‘different’, they are like us This presentation provided background for everyone to visit the exhibition installation with greater insight as to how it came into being and why, its role in 2002 when it was produced and its continuing role now.
Some of the comments from students who were present about their favourite images are below:
‘’One of my favourite images which I think is a powerful composition shows a wee boy holding a hand of a faceless soldier which gives good symbolism for hope ‘’ Xavi
‘’ The two young boys running together has a strong sense of hope and running towards something with happiness. After listening to the talk, it is really beautiful to see such freedom and happiness after a time of horrific control’’ Isla
‘’ I liked the Bala Hissar Fort. It shows how war-torn the place was. The rust on the green tanks and the beige background contrasts extremely well’’ Rowan
‘’ Foot Patrol C Company is a favourite. I liked it because it looked as if the man was not just protecting the child but also bonding with him. The job isn’t always to protect and serve it’s also to make these kids feel like they are safe and normal.’’ Archie
The students were asked about their main impressions following the talk and having seen the photographs:
‘’I feel that no matter what, humans will always be able to connect with others and help each other in dire situations.’’ Xavi
‘’ I think that it is so incredible that people all over can see these photographs of a situation that we are less knowledgeable about than we should be, The photos demonstrate how it must have felt for all those civilians that have been given freedom. It all told the story really well and created a feeling of hope and emotion. Personally, the photos and the talk made me feel inspired and made me want to share these types of stories ‘’ Isla
‘’It was an ambitious mission and it’s very symbolic and shows what was happening during that uncertain time in Afghanistan.,,,,,’’ Rowan W
‘’ It seemed like the soldiers (of ISAF) did not only make the people feel safe, they also provided hope; hope that they could live better lives, ones that could feel safe in and you could be whatever you want to be’’. Archie
“Just want to say a very appreciative thank you for coming to UHS and sharing the wonderful stories from ‘Faces of Kabul’. I am sure this has given our pupils much food for thought and hopefully inspired everybody to be more accepting of difference and willing to reach out and connect across cultural divides.” Lesley Strachan, Teacher and Lead for Photography at Ullapool High School
The exhibition installation once again opened the door to important discussion/debate, the rights and wrongs of the international military peacekeeping intervention in Afghanistan in 2002 six months after 9/11, what happened subsequently in August 2021, what has happened since particularly for girls and women, the position of refugees today in Highland and across the UK, what everyone feels about this and our responsibilities as citizens in a globally connected world.
Our grateful thanks to all the staff at Caol, Inverness Central and Ullapool Libraries for their support in staging this installation, to High Life Highland and Ward Councillors in all the locations for making it possible.
