The Promise of Liberty: Ali Asfour
Opening Reception: August 1sth, 2024, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
22 Christopher St, New York, NY 10014
IAIA invites you to join us in celebrating the first institutional solo presentation of Ali Asfour in New York.
The Institute of Arab & Islamic Art (IAIA) is pleased to present The Promise of Liberty, the first institutional solo exhibition by Ali Asfour. This exhibition unveils Asfour’s photographic series, capturing the raw, unfiltered stories that reflect the resilience and complexities of Palestinian existence. Born in Amman, Jordan, Asfour embraced photography as a means to resurrect the hushed narratives of the Palestinian experience. The Promise of Liberty examines the delicate balance between revealing the tragedy of Palestinian life and safeguarding the beauty rooted in Palestinian culture, and traditions.
The exhibition title, drawn from a poem by Palestinian poet and writer Mahmoud Darwish, evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia that characterizes the Palestinian experience. Asfour's cinematic imagery conveys a visual language of shared melancholy, while other images explore the complex, somber layers of his subjects' lives, revealing the often unexplored narratives of his ancestral land. The Promise of Liberty captures moments of everyday life that resonate with us through their familiarity, serving as life-affirming documents of the humanity of the Palestinian people and resisting narratives that seek to erase them.
Ali Asfour(b. 1990) Ali Asfour is a Palestinian, Ramallah-based analog film photographer who navigates the delicate balance between exposing the tragedy of Palestinian existence and safeguarding the beauty encapsulated in Palestinian roots, culture, and traditions. Ali’s work stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of a people determined to thrive despite the challenges imposed upon them. His art challenges us to dive into introspection, compelling us to reflect and take action in the pursuit of justice.