Moises Saman’s new solo exhibition examines the conflicting narratives central to the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, the aftermath, and the limits of documentary photography in reporting on a war — one still ongoing for many Iraqis.
The exhibition draws from Saman’s photographs taken in Iraq over the past two decades and is interspersed with U.S. military maps and charts, lists of Iraqi dead, redacted transcripts, satellite images, quotes and pop culture references all tied to the war in Iraq.
The pairing of Saman’s images with these materials exposes the dissonance between the photographer’s portrayal of war and official rhetoric, raising deeper questions about how narratives are crafted in war and how memory is shaped.
The Ghosts of History is a traveling exhibition organized in collaboration with the Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery. Support for the exhibition has been provided by Haverford College’s John B. Hurford ’60 Center for the Arts and Humanities, Magnum Photos, and Haverford’s Distinguished Visitors Program.
There will be a talk with Moises Saman and Sinan Antoon followed by a reception on Thursday, November 14, from 4:30 p.m.–7 p.m. EDT, at Whitehead Campus Center at Haverford College.
