Fatimah Hossaini's 'Beauty amid War' at Lecce Fine Arts Academy
On October 22, 2021, the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Lecce opened 'Beauty amid War,' a solo exhibition by Iranian photographer and activist Fatimah Hossaini. The show features 18 photographs from her series 'Pearl in the Oyster' and 'Khurasani Reflections,' depicting Afghan women of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Qizilbash, and Uzbek ethnicities. Hossaini, who fled to Paris to escape the Taliban, uses portraiture to counter stereotypes of victimhood, emphasizing resilience and cultural identity. Her work challenges Afghanistan's conservative norms where posing for photos is seen as provocative. The exhibition previously traveled to Beijing, Tehran, New York, and Paris. Hossaini is also founder of the Mastooraat Organization, which supports art, women, and peace.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Beauty amid War' opened October 22, 2021 at Accademia delle Belle Arti di Lecce
- 18 photographs from series 'Pearl in the Oyster' and 'Khurasani Reflections'
- Subjects are Afghan women of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Qizilbash, and Uzbek ethnicities
- Photographer Fatimah Hossaini is an Iranian activist and refugee in Paris
- Hossaini founded Mastooraat Organization supporting art, women, and peace
- Exhibition previously shown in Beijing, Tehran, New York, and Paris
- Hossaini's work aims to counter stereotypes of Afghan women as passive victims
- Photographing women in Afghanistan is difficult due to conservative social norms
Entities
Artists
- Fatimah Hossaini
Institutions
- Accademia delle Belle Arti di Lecce
- Mastooraat Organization
- University of Kabul
Locations
- Lecce
- Italy
- Beijing
- China
- Tehran
- Iran
- New York
- United States
- Paris
- France
- Afghanistan