The gaze of a Mosuliot, Raisan Hameed

Exclusive ITW par Benoît Gausseron (french version 🇫🇷)

Benoît Gausseron : The Paris Photo Fair has just awarded you in Paris last november. It has been a very special moment for us to take a look at your work. How were this short stay in France and your feeling there ?

Raisan Hameed: I feel honored to be awarded at the Paris Photo 2023. The short stay in Paris was unforgettable, full of artistic inspiration and the opportunity to exchange ideas with other artists. The vibrant atmosphere of Paris added to the significance of the moment and made it a very special experience. I look forward to visiting the city again.

Benoît Gausseron : You are born in Mossoul, Irak and currently live in Leipzig, Germany. Tell us more of your life in Mossoul until 2015 ?

Raisan Hameed : My life in Mosul until 2015 was deeply rooted in the history and rich culture of the city. I studied fine arts and worked as a photographer for some local newspapers. But the situation became unbearable due to various challenges and the war. I lost some of my friends in it.

Benoît Gausseron : You decided to leave your home town under terrible conditions. When did you take that decision ?

Raisan Hameed : The decision to leave Mosul was made under difficult circumstances when conditions in the city became increasingly unbearable. The decision was made right at the beginning of the war in Mosul in 2014. It was a complex and heartbreaking decision, driven by the desire for a safer and more stable life.

Benoît Gausseron : Migrants are not often vocal when it comes to their journeys from Middle East to Europe. Could you tell us more why this route from Irak to Germany through Greece and Turkey, is part of your work ?

Raisan Hameed : The way from Iraq to Germany via Greece and Turkey is a crucial aspect of my work because it reflects the overall story of displacement and the search for a better life. By including this journey in my artistic expression, I want to highlight the experiences and challenges faced by immigrants and provide a perspective that is often overlooked in the art world. also because in the western visual language problematic images would be published, not reflected and portrayed with a degrading view of the people with migration experience.

Benoît Gausseron : Would you be kind enough to share some of the pics you took with your cell ?

Raisan Hameed : of course, i photographed the way from Turkey to Germany with my iphone, i didn’t know what would happen to the pictures. in 2020 i published an artist book with the pictures. i am happy to share some pictures with you.

Benoît Gausseron : Mossoul, from Ninive to the ISIS occupation, has reached the status of a mythological town, combining the best and the worst of human beings. What means Mossoul for you ?

Raisan Hameed : Mosul has had historical and cultural value for thousands of years. It encompasses the rich historical heritage of Nineveh. Mosul represents a meeting point between the positive aspects and the sad events that took place there and which are the target of my artistic work.

Benoît Gausseron : You decided to articulate in your work the map of the town and the skin of your body. What are the connexions between a body and a home town ? Is it all about flesh, skin and blood ?

Raisan Hameed : The connection between the city map and the skin of my body in my work symbolizes a deep interconnectedness between personal identity and the geographical and cultural roots of my city. It goes beyond physical elements such as flesh, skin and blood and explores the complex relationship between the individual and their place of origin. Changes and new questions about identity. This work reflects a dream I used to have of flying over the city. It is a wonderful feeling full of freedom and connection. often my works have a kind of abstraction. i try not to be direct in my language, to leave a free space for interpretation

Benoît Gausseron : Any other projects under work and up coming exhibitions ?

Raisan Hameed : Yes: I am currently working on several projects that deal with different aspects of personal and cultural narratives. I also have exhibitions coming up where I will show my work in Germany to give the public new perspectives on the themes I explore in photography. I am also holding my solo-exhibition for my Meisterschühler degree at the Academy of Fine Arts in Leipzig.

for more Info: https://raisanhameed.cargo.site/Book