Ordinary Lives
“No one will forget the women and children in the pages that follow, the ordinary lives in times that are cursed by being anything but ordinary.” Anthony Shadid
Lebanon is a country built upon dichotomies. It is a blend of cultures, poised at the intersection between the Western and the Arab world. Born in Beirut and living in the West, photographer Rania Matar is especially attuned to those dichotomies. Here she honors the lives of the women and children of Lebanon in evocative black-and-white photographs. They convey the many facets of life, acknowledging the undeniable presence of war and tragedy, yet celebrating the strength, dignity, and humanity of lives lived amidst the rubble, in refugee camps, or behind the veil. The images are universal, powerful reminders of the tender bond between a mother and child, the cheerful camaraderie of friends, and the resilience of the human spirit. Accompanying these photographs are excerpts from the poetry of celebrated Palestinian-American author Lisa Majaj.
$39.95 Clothbound (Can. $50.00) ISBN-13 978-1-593720377 11.61 x 7.75 inches 100 duotone photographs 136 pages PHOTOGRAPHY
RANIA MATAR
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Essay by Anthony Shadid
“No one will forget the women and children in the pages that follow, the ordinary lives in times that are cursed by being anything but ordinary.” Anthony Shadid
Lebanon is a country built upon dichotomies. It is a blend of cultures, poised at the intersection between the Western and the Arab world. Born in Beirut and living in the West, photographer Rania Matar is especially attuned to those dichotomies. Here she honors the lives of the women and children of Lebanon in evocative black-and-white photographs. They convey the many facets of life, acknowledging the undeniable presence of war and tragedy, yet celebrating the strength, dignity, and humanity of lives lived amidst the rubble, in refugee camps, or behind the veil. The images are universal, powerful reminders of the tender bond between a mother and child, the cheerful camaraderie of friends, and the resilience of the human spirit. Accompanying these photographs are excerpts from the poetry of celebrated Palestinian-American author Lisa Majaj.
RANIA MATAR Born and raised in Lebanon, Rania Matar moved to the United States in 1984. The recipient of a fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, she lives with her family in Brookline, MA.
September 2009 $39.95 Clothbound (Can. $50.00) 11.61 x 7.75 inches 100 duotone photographs 136 pages PHOTOGRAPHY