compelling new exhibition titled ‘In Which Language Do We Dream?’ is opening at Gallery Oldham, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of one Syrian family uprooted by war.
Through intimate photographs and film, the exhibition provides an emotional look at the journey of the al-Hindawi family, who fled their home in Homs, Syria in 2012 due to the ongoing civil war.
It explores their experiences living as displaced people in Lebanon and later resettling in East Yorkshire in 2017.
“Our lives have been different in every place, in Syria, Lebanon, and now England, and we want people to see this,” said Ruba al-Hindawi, the family’s matriarch whose pre-war job was working in a photo lab. “Our photographs help to explain this, and I want our children to be able to see how our lives have changed because I don’t know if we will ever be able to go back home or not.”
Co-created by photographer Rich Wiles and the al-Hindawi family over five years, the exhibition juxtaposes the family’s rescued old family photos with contemporary images capturing their journey and new life in the UK.
It offers an intimate look at the human impact of displacement and hopes of rebuilding lives.
There will be an opening event on 10 February at 2pm with photographer Rich Wiles discussing the exhibition.
In Which Language Do We Dream? runs from 10 February to 11 May 2024 and is suitable for all ages. It is a touring exhibition from Impressions Gallery.
