Castrum Peregrini and Paradox are pleased to invite you to

Women We Have Not Lost Yet and other stories from Aleppo

Now in its fifth year, the Syrian conflict has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and left half of the population displaced. Aleppo, the largest metropolis in the country and one of the oldest human settlements in the world, is at risk of disappearing. Ongoing battles between government forces, opposition rebels and radical Islamist militants have severely damaged the city’s architectural fabric and will soon destroy what remains of its essence as a centre of intellectual activity and cross-cultural dialogue. The original number of inhabitants has shrunk from 2.7 million to an estimated 1.2 million in the Assad-controlled western zone and 500,000 in the east.

Issa Touma, a photographer, cultural animator and founder of Le Pont gallery, has devoted himself to preserving Aleppo’s urban culture. In 2012, he initiated Art Camping. A collaborative programme in the form of workshops, it attempts to counter the violence of the conflict by encouraging young people from various religious and ethnic backgrounds to express themselves through art and culture.

Exhibition

Women We Have Not Lost Yet and other stories from Aleppo brings together Touma’s visual work and some of the outcomes of Art Camping. Also featured is the video 9 DAYS – From My Window in Aleppo, edited by Floor van der Meulen and Thomas Vroege, and Mini Opera – A Postcard from Aleppo, composed by Merlijn Twaalfhoven to a libretto by Abdelkader Benali.

The exhibition pays tribute to those who still live in the ruined city, struggling to hold on to hope amid the horrors of war.

Book

The publication Women We Have Not Lost Yet, designed by Kummer & Herrman, portrays 15 young women who took refuge in Le Pont gallery during the ‘Great Attack’ by radical Islamists in April 2015. The stories, recorded by Touma on video and in photographs, are a cry for freedom from the women Syria has not lost yet – to death, exile or oppression.

Revenues from the sale of the book, which was realised with the generous support of various partners, will be shared with Art Camping.

Opening & book launch Sat 12 September, 5-8pm, Castrum PeregriniThe exhibition will be inaugurated by writer Abdelkader Benali, and complemented with a live performance with excerpts from the Mini Opera – A Postcard from Aleppo, composed by Merlijn Twaalfhoven to a libretto by Abdelkader Benali

Artist talkWed 16 September, 8-10pm, Castrum PeregriniModerated by writer and cultural animator Chris KeulemansRSVP: hp@paradox.nl Entrance: €5 ,- (free for members of We Are Public)

Book signingSat 19 September, 3-4pm, Unseen BookmarketYdoc stand at Unseen Bookmarket Westergasfabriek, Haarlemmerweg 8E, Amsterdam

Unseen lunchSun 20 September, 12-2pm, Castrum PeregriniMeet the artist: lunch event with Issa Touma and Paradox staffRSVP: hp@paradox.nl

Exhibition12-27 September, Castrum Peregrini

Herengracht 401(entrance via Beulingstraat) 1017 BP Amsterdam Tues-Sun , 11am-6pm

Author: Issa ToumaDesign: Kummer & Herrman64pp, 24.5 x 33.5cmPrice: €25,- / €30,- (signed) Order online via YdocStore: www.ydocfoundation.org/women-we-have-not-lost-yet/

Woman We Have Not Lost Yet was co-produced by Paradox and André Frère Editions

9 DAYS – From My Window in Aleppo was co-produced by Paradox and DeepFocus WebDocs

Paradox wishes to thank: Kummer & Herrman, Colour & Books, Platform P, Igepa, Hexspoor, Jeroen de Vries, Martha Pisco, Castrum Peregrini, Merlijn Twaalfhoven

Paradox is supported by the Mondriaan Fund

Paradox PO Box 1131135 ZK EdamThe Netherlandswww.paradox.nl