A 9/11 themed photo exhibition intended to educate the public is being shown at the Spool MFG gallery. “Overload: Photographing the Iraq War” is composed of graphic photos from soldiers and professional photographers depicting the hardships of war.
The exclusive photographs illustrate front-line coverage, the short and long-term aftermath of war, and images of Iraqi citizens attempting to carry on daily life amid war. Images of battered bodies, a blood-soaked stretcher and open gunfire reiterate the severity of the ongoing destruction in Iraq.
Pictures and multimedia are by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, Lynsey Addario, Ed Kashi, Andrew Lichtenstein and Zachary Barr, Benjamin Lowy, Lucian Read and Stefan Zaklin. There’s also a reading room featuring a bonus print by Peter van Agtmael and books by Nina Berman, Tyler Hicks, Bruno Stevens, Tony Suau, Geert van Kesteren and American soldiers.
When asked about his experience living in Iraqi Kurdistan, photojournalist Ed Kashi said it was a life-altering experience. In 2005, Kashi spent seven weeks living and documenting the lives of the Kurdish people, who endured a genocidal campaign under Saddam Hussein, which resulted in the deaths of over 180,000.
Being relatively less dangerous and more peaceful than the rest of Iraq, Kashi says Kurdistan was a much safer environment to work in, having seen fewer incidents of bombings, explosions and shootings. His long-time interest in the Kurds’ tragic lives inspired him to document their sufferings.
“For me, they’re people that I really love and admire. It’s great to be with them; constantly having to be in people’s lives in intimate situations is challenging and tricky, but it’s something that I live for.”
Inspired by the “organic evolution in the digital editing process,” Kashi composed a digital war flipbook that mixes still images with movement, combining traditional techniques with new technology. Very pleased with the gallery and Overload exhibit, Kashi was present last Saturday night, and said the inclusion of the other artist’s works has created a very powerful exhibition.
The opening reception held last Friday from 7 p.m. to midnight drew a steady flow of onlookers throughout the night. An open and artistic space, Spool MFG is an inviting area to view the provoking photos.
“There are far more images of hot stars, hard abs, fast cars and yummy meals on newsstands than there are of pictures from a war that will define our world for generations,” says the show’s curator, Strokes Young. Providing an angle rarely shown by leading broadcast, print and online publishers, the Overload exhibit seeks to provide the average American with a greater understanding of the cruel bloodshed occurring in Iraq.
When asked about the exhibition, Chris Turner, 20, a Binghamton University junior, said he thought it was an excellent showing. “It was a very breathtaking experience to see the realities of war.”
The Overload exhibit is located on 138 Baldwin St. in Johnson City and runs until Oct. 28. Free of charge, gallery hours for the exhibit are 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.