Rawsht Twana was born in 1988 in Qaladze, Iraq. He became a photographer in 2006 after discovering his father’s archive, who himself was a photographer before he was killed in 1992. Twana, who has been displaced twice in his life, has focused his work on the impact of conflict and displacement in his home country. In his “What We Share” series, Twana explores the common history, memories and culture that displaced people share, and that which unites them despite their differences. Twana currently lives in Suleymaniye, Iraq with his wife and daughter.
Around the world, more than 128 million people are trapped in crisis and struggling to survive. From Afghanistan to Yemen, conflict and natural disasters are causing widespread suffering on a scale not seen since the Second World War. Displacement is a central consequence of these crises, reflected in the record-breaking 65.6 million people who were forcibly displaced by conflict and violence in 2016.
For “What We Share,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) teamed up with photographers to explore the theme of solidarity in times of displacement. The first series, photographed by Vincent Tremeau, tells the stories of host families in Niger, who share what little they have with Nigerian refugees fleeing violence and insecurity. The second series, a joint collaboration between Stefano Carini and Rawsht Twana, focuses on the common history and memories that displaced people share in northern Iraq, a region of the world that has witnessed multiple waves of displacement.
While displacement often conjures up images of people crossing borders and seas, seeking assistance and protection, “What We Share” offers a unique perspective, highlighting the powerful ties that bind people together in the most trying of circumstances.
Artist Bios
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Vincent Tremeau
Vincent Tremeau, (b. 1984), is a French photographer. Since studying law, he has undertaken several missions as a humanitarian worker in crisis-affected countries.
From 2014, Tremeau has been committed to pursuing work as an independent photographer, and started documenting several humanitarian crises across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Combining an artistic approach with a documentary intent, he started his One Day, I Will project with young people.
By tapping into the childrens’ own vision of their future, he offers the audience a unique glimpse into their current circumstances and challenges, and a view into what tomorrow’s world might look like.
The series has been featured in National Geographic, CNN, PBS, and exhibited around the world from New York to Tokyo, Berlin, Geneva, and Washington DC. -
Stefano Carini
Stefano Carini worked as a photo editor for NOOR Images in Amsterdam after studying photography and photojournalism. In May 2014, he moved to Iraq where he lead Metrography, the first Iraqi photo agency, and created the Map of Displacement, an interactive project that tells the stories of displaced Iraqis. Carini has trained photographers and visual storytellers in Europe and Iraq, given lectures, and curated both solo and group exhibitions. He has been part of the World Press Photo’s Joop Swart Masterclass nominating committee since 2014. Carini’s main objective is to be part of, inspire, and push forward a cultural revolution in the ways and forms we produce, consume, and process images and visual documents. Carini lives and works in Scicli, Sicily and is the co-founder and director of DARST, a nomadic art studio for the research and production of documentary projects.
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Rawsht Twana
Organizations
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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises.
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United Photo Industries (UPI)
United Photo Industries (UPI) is a New York based nonprofit organization that works to promote a wider understanding of, and increased access to, the art of photography.
Since its founding in 2011, UPI has rapidly solidified its position in the public art landscape by continuing to showcase thought-provoking, challenging, and exceptional photography from across the globe. In its first seven years, UPI has presented the work of more than 2,500 visual artists in gallery exhibitions and public art installations worldwide.
What We Share
archive
:
2017
Featuring: Vincent Tremeau Stefano Carini Rawsht Twana
Presented by: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Photo Industries (UPI)
Locations
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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