Most good things happen unexpectedly, and that summarises Rula Halawani’s journey into photography. “I didn’t go home for the summer because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to get back because of the first intifada (uprising) in Palestine. Since I had nothing else to do, I chose to take a photography class to pass the time,” she recalls. Though it began as a casual distraction, the maths and physics student soon realised photography was her true calling, leading her into the world of capturing images.
Since that first class, Halawani's photography journey has flourished. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Advanced Photography from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, followed by a Master’s in Photographic Studies from the University of Westminster, London. She also established the Photography programme at Birzeit University in Palestine. Her work has garnered international acclaim, with her images finding a home in prestigious collections at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Nadour Collection in Germany and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London to name a few.
Halawani's work delves deep into the Palestinian struggle, offering intimate portraits that showcase the personal and emotional toll caused by the occupation. While initially focused on people and their daily lives, her lens later expanded to encompass the environmental devastation wrought by the conflict. "Through roadblocks, destroyed homes, and the daily hardships of Palestinians living under occupation, my photography captures the psychological and physical marks of conflict," she shares with MOJEH. Her images aim to challenge viewers, confronting them with the enduring impact of violence and displacement and stirring both personal and collective memories.
During her visit to the north of Palestine, Ras al Naqoura next to the Lebanese border, for the first time since high school, she was shocked to see how different it was. “I could not find my memories of this place, so I decided to do a project about my memories as a child in the country.” For My Father is a poignant exploration of this loss, a visual narrative that reimagines a cherished homeland and stands as one of her most compelling works.
The artist’s For My Father series is a haunting testament to a Palestine transformed. Abandoned buildings, desolate fields and once-vibrant shores now echo with silence. Dedicated to her father, this body of work filters the Israeli occupation through the lens of fading memory. One such memory was a trip to Syria. “I was 12 years old when my father took me and my sister to Syria and told us that part of Syria was occupied by Israel,” Halawani explains. She recounts how she told her father, upon returning to Palestine and standing at the shared border, how she had felt safer and freer on the Syrian side. Years later, as she stood at that same border, she reminisced. “I looked at the skies, and spoke to my father. I told him that I do not feel safe on either side, and I’m not free…”
After completing For My Father, the artist shared her work with her mother, seeking feedback. Her mother’s unexpected response - “Are you going to make a series for me when I leave this universe?” - sparked the creation of her next heartfelt project, For You, Mother. “Mama, don't discuss death. I will honour you while you are alive,” she replied.
There’s no escaping the political in her photographs as they transcend the artistic realm. For Halawani, her photography aims to educate the world about the Palestinian history and culture, ensuring that their stories are not forgotten. “By mixing personal, humanising events with more general socio-political settings, I balance the political and personal aspects of my photography. Usually reflecting the greater political scene, my artworks centre on the human experiences and feelings of Palestinians. I build a strong personal and political narrative by stressing how political events and situations affect human life.” she explains to MOJEH.
Rula Halawani's photography serves as a powerful tribute to the Palestinian experience. Through her documentation of lived realities, she advocates for Palestinian rights and inspires solidarity. Her series, For My Father, For You, Mother and For Them, delve deep into these themes and she hopes to consolidate all three into a book. These works collectively form a powerful chronicle of Palestinian life, love and resilience, contributing significantly to the preservation of Palestinian memory and identity.
For My Father is now being exhibited at Ayyam Gallery until 31 August 2024 as part of the summer collective - Lens & Light: Moments in Focus
