Syria: A Conflict Explored
Sergey Ponomarev
Imperial War Museum
21 APRIL - 3 SEPTEMBER 2017
Free
A combination of photography exhibition 'A Lens on Syria' by Sergey Ponomarev and a 7 minute video introduction, attempting to explain the conflict. Free, and housed in the Imperial War Museum, Syria: A Conflict Explored is a highly relevant and important exhibition for the people of today, and will help those far removed to become more engaged and informed.
Sergey Ponomarev is an award winning Russian documentary Photographer. This is his first UK exhibition, featuring intimate and powerful shots of life in Syria between 2013-14. The exhibition is split into two different bodies of work - the first 'Assad's Syria', documents the desolation and destruction of Government controlled areas of Syria in large frames, beautifully presented. The second part 'The Exodus' documents suffering Syrians and refugees seeking an alternative, better life in Europe on a projected screen.
Both collections of photographs are incredibly powerful - there isn't much special effect or retouching to them, making them all the more real. The photographs document these people in an effective and respectful way, heightening emotion in the viewer as they see the results of such a troubled time. The people in the photographs are painfully human - a young boy rides his bike witnessing a bomb explosion. Some children play in the rubble, lacking parents or a home. A family return to their destroyed apartment to try and save what few possessions remain. The images throw the truth in your face, they stand up and make you listen, they demand to be heard.
The video is a 7 minuted balanced, unbiased and fair introduction to an extremely complex war. Lasting longer than the second world war, killing almost half a million people and forcing 11 million out of their homes shows just the status of Syria and how quickly a stable country can fall. The video was engaging and informative, having been previously ignorant of exactly what was going on it was a great way to get the background knowledge needed in a short time.
Overall, this is probably one of the most important exhibitions this year. It contains some brutally honest and beautiful photographs, as well as an informative and to the point video. Come to view, to learn, to discover - but most of all, to appreciate the struggles of the Syrian people and to hopefully become more enlightened on exactly what a disaster this conflict has become.
OVERALL RATING: ****
http://www.iwm.org.uk/exhibitions/iwm-london/syria-a-conflict-explored
