Rania Matar's 'Where Do I Go' Portraits of Lebanese Women at Robert Klein Gallery

Rania Matar's photographic series 'Where Do I Go' is currently being showcased at the newly opened Robert Klein Gallery x Sea-Dar exhibition space in Boston, running until September 19. This project was inspired by Matar's encounter with graffiti in Arabic that posed the question, 'Where Do I Go?' It features portraits of Lebanese women collaborating with the artist, including Rhea S, who is captured alone among vacant red chairs at the deserted Piccadilly Theatre in Beirut, Tara blending in with flowers in Bekaakat Kanaan, and Rianna reflecting the sky in Amchit's waters. Architectural elements, such as the Burj El Murr Tower—an emblem of the Lebanese Civil War—are incorporated, notably projected onto Tamara’s body using camera obscura. Additionally, a photobook published by Kaph Books includes around 128 color portraits and an essay by Youmna Melhem Chamieh that discusses representation politics. Matar, a Lebanese-born American-Palestinian who emigrated from Lebanon in 1984, identifies with the women she photographs. This series also marks the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) and addresses ongoing issues such as the economic crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, the Beirut Port Explosion, and rising conflicts.