{"id":5352,"date":"2025-06-05T15:13:26","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:13:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/"},"modified":"2025-06-05T15:13:26","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:13:26","slug":"50-years-later-where-do-i-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years Later \u2013 Where Do I Go?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The stark question scrawled on a wall in Beirut, &quot;Where do I go?&quot;, serves as the poignant anchor for Rania Matar&#8217;s profound new body of work. Her solo exhibition, <em>50 Years Later \u2013 Where Do I Go?<\/em>, currently on display at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art until August 2, 2026, is accompanied by a similarly titled photobook. The project features approximately 128 color portraits of young women in contemporary Lebanon, delving into themes of identity, belonging, and the immense pressure of critical life choices. Matar&#8217;s evocative and layered images are the product of a deeply collaborative process, where each subject actively shapes her own representation. For many of these women, the central question is not an abstract contemplation but an immediate, pressing reality, as they navigate the complexities of war, economic instability, and an uncertain future.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rania-matar-768x611.png\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/#A_Generation_at_a_Crossroads\" >A Generation at a Crossroads<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/#The_Weight_of_Survival_and_War\" >The Weight of Survival and War<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/#A_Collaborative_Vision_Empowering_the_Subject\" >A Collaborative Vision: Empowering the Subject<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/#Finding_the_Subjects_A_Network_of_Resilience\" >Finding the Subjects: A Network of Resilience<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/#Recurring_Motifs_Hope_Amidst_the_Ruins\" >Recurring Motifs: Hope Amidst the Ruins<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/#The_Echoes_of_Conflict_An_Eerie_Relevance\" >The Echoes of Conflict: An Eerie Relevance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/2025\/06\/05\/50-years-later-where-do-i-go\/#Unwavering_Connection_Resilience_in_Action\" >Unwavering Connection: Resilience in Action<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Generation_at_a_Crossroads\"><\/span>A Generation at a Crossroads<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Matar intentionally focused on women of a similar age for this project, drawing a powerful parallel to her own experience. In 1984, at the same age as the women she photographs, Matar faced the agonizing decision of leaving Lebanon. This personal history deeply informs the current work, as she observes contemporary young women standing at a similar precipice. One path beckons them away from family, home, and all they hold dear; the other compels them to remain in a nation marked by fractured hope and persistent conflict. The repetition of this historical dilemma, seen through the eyes of a new generation, carries a profound and painful resonance for the artist. Furthermore, these women share the age of Matar&#8217;s own daughters, highlighting a cyclical concern: had she remained in Lebanon, her daughters might now be embodying the very same struggles and facing the same impossible question that she believed would be a relic of the past.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Weight_of_Survival_and_War\"><\/span>The Weight of Survival and War<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The lives of young women in Lebanon, while sharing universal concerns about education, careers, love, and personal fulfillment, are often burdened by the additional weight of survival and the pervasive reality of conflict. This project gained particular momentum following the catastrophic explosions at the Port of Beirut in August 2020. This devastating event irrevocably altered countless lives, forcing a generation of young women to confront an existential crossroads: to stay or to leave, and what future awaits them on either path.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rania-matar.png?resize=1280%2C1019&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The decision to emigrate is fraught with immense difficulty, involving the severance of ties with family and home, and the embrace of an unknown future. Conversely, choosing to remain presents the challenge of rebuilding, both literally and figuratively, from the ruins of a fractured nation. Matar acknowledges that many have chosen to stay, some have departed only to return, while others have left but carry Lebanon within them in a profound, inseverable way. Her own departure in 1984, under the pretense of a temporary move to the United States, underscores this enduring connection. She felt a visceral understanding of their dilemma, their shattered hopes, their dreams, and their pain, which compelled her to provide a platform for them to share their stories and their intricate relationship with their beautiful, yet scarred, homeland.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Collaborative_Vision_Empowering_the_Subject\"><\/span>A Collaborative Vision: Empowering the Subject<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Matar emphasizes that the women she photographs are active participants in the creative process, granting them agency in how they are represented. Before any photographic session, she initiates a dialogue, often through a phone call, to understand their personal narratives, their connection to Lebanon, their origins, and their relationship with specific locales. This foundational conversation is crucial in establishing trust and respect, setting the stage for a truly collaborative endeavor.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rania-matar4-1.png?resize=1280%2C1018&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The photographic sessions themselves are characterized by spontaneity and experimentation. Locations are not scouted in advance, and there is no staging. Matar either collects her subjects or meets them at a chosen spot, and from that moment, the creative process unfolds organically. Ideas flow back and forth between artist and subject, culminating in images that are both beautiful and deeply meaningful. This collaborative spirit, where the photographer and the photographed co-create the final artwork, is the very heart of the project. The ultimate reward for Matar lies in capturing an image that resonates with profound truth and shared understanding.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Finding_the_Subjects_A_Network_of_Resilience\"><\/span>Finding the Subjects: A Network of Resilience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Matar often discovers the women for her projects through calls for collaboration posted on social media platforms, typically before her travels to Lebanon. She describes the project and invites those interested to participate. The overwhelming and humbling response she has received is a testament to the readiness of these women to share their experiences. Initial phone calls serve as a means of introduction and connection, preceding any physical meetings or pre-selection based on photographs.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rania_matar2.png?resize=1280%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Matar&#8217;s approach is rooted in the belief that anyone who expresses interest in such a project possesses an inherent quality of being interesting, creative, and exciting to work with. The network of participants often expands organically, with individuals recommending friends, cousins, or acquaintances. She also encounters potential subjects in various everyday settings, approaching them with an invitation to be part of the series, and then developing the collaboration from there. Matar expresses deep gratitude to every woman involved, recognizing the courage and resilience required to put themselves forward. While initial interactions may carry a degree of tentativeness, a beautiful synergy emerges as mutual discovery and creative ideas begin to flow, breathing life into the work.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recurring_Motifs_Hope_Amidst_the_Ruins\"><\/span>Recurring Motifs: Hope Amidst the Ruins<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The visual language of Matar&#8217;s work is rich with symbolism, evoking themes of resilience, rebirth, and the enduring spirit of Lebanon. The recurring motifs of a &quot;phoenix rising from the ashes,&quot; shafts of light, mirrors, and women interacting with natural elements like earth and flowers are deliberate choices aimed at conveying a sense of hope, even in the face of devastation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rania-matar8.png?resize=1270%2C1014&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The project&#8217;s genesis, following the 2020 Port of Beirut explosions, was profoundly influenced by the sight of young women actively participating in reconstruction efforts, clearing debris. Their resilience and dedication inspired Matar, making the concepts of hope and rebirth central to the work. She consciously aimed for her images to be metaphorical rather than purely documentary, reflecting both the architectural scars of the city and the inherent beauty of Lebanon \u2013 its light, its flora, its landscapes.<\/p>\n<p>Mirrors and light are employed to represent duality, signifying the constant tension between destruction and resilience, loss and possibility. The interplay of light illuminating a subject or a mirror reflecting something just beyond the frame underscores this constant negotiation between what has been lost and what remains attainable. Ultimately, Matar finds genuine hope for Lebanon in this generation, a hope she endeavors to imbue in every image, particularly those that confront difficult truths.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rania-matar6.png?resize=1280%2C1017&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Echoes_of_Conflict_An_Eerie_Relevance\"><\/span>The Echoes of Conflict: An Eerie Relevance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The timing of the exhibition, coinciding with escalating tensions and displacement in Lebanon, imbues the work with an almost eerie and tragically relevant significance. The central question, &quot;Where do I go?&quot;, is now being posed with intensified urgency, as a substantial portion of Lebanon&#8217;s population faces displacement.<\/p>\n<p>The exhibition was initially conceived to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990), a period of profound national trauma. However, the current geopolitical climate has introduced new layers of hardship and uncertainty, making the themes of the exhibition resonate even more powerfully. While the news cycle often focuses on statistics and economic indicators, Matar&#8217;s portraits offer a crucial humanizing element, placing a face on the individuals affected by the ongoing conflict. Many of the women featured hail from South Lebanon, regions currently experiencing bombardment and occupation, underscoring their need to be seen as individuals, not abstract casualties of headlines.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rania-matar7.png?resize=1280%2C1017&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>In the current climate, the portraits have transformed into potent symbols of hope against a backdrop of bleakness. They serve as a testament to the enduring beauty of the Lebanese people and their unwavering belief in their country, a spirit that persists across generations.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Unwavering_Connection_Resilience_in_Action\"><\/span>Unwavering Connection: Resilience in Action<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Matar remains in close contact with the women she photographed. Many have been displaced, seeking refuge with family members in various parts of the country. Those from South Lebanon are enduring particularly harrowing circumstances. Despite the immense challenges, Matar expresses profound admiration for their resilience. Much like their response to the Port of Beirut explosions, these women are once again stepping up, organizing fundraising efforts, sourcing essential supplies like mattresses, and preparing and distributing food to those rendered homeless by the war. Their actions are concrete demonstrations of humanity and solidarity.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article-inline-figure\"><img src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.featureshoot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/rania-matar5.png?resize=1280%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"To Stay or Leave? Young Women in Lebanon Navigate War, Crisis, and Uncertainty\" class=\"article-inline-img\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>This unwavering spirit brings Matar back to the core of her project and the urgent question: &quot;Where do I go?&quot;. The urgency she felt when initiating the work is amplified by the present reality. These women, through their actions, offer the most profound and beautiful answer she knows. The images are presented as &quot;love letters&quot; to them, a tribute to the collective experience of those who have remained in Lebanon and those who have left but carry its essence within them. The project serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring strength and spirit of the Lebanese people, even in the face of persistent adversity.<\/p>\n<!-- RatingBintangAjaib -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The stark question scrawled on a wall in Beirut, &quot;Where do I go?&quot;, serves as the poignant anchor for Rania Matar&#8217;s profound new body of work. Her solo exhibition, 50 Years Later \u2013 Where Do I Go?, currently on display at the Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art until August 2, 2026, is accompanied &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[245],"tags":[724,247,246,248,249,183],"class_list":["post-5352","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fashion-photography-and-modeling","tag-later","tag-modeling","tag-photography","tag-portfolios","tag-studio","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5352","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5352"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5352\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5352"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5352"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/fashionstudio.info\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5352"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}