A poignant Lebanese photo collection evokes memories of home
Charbel Alkhoury, a Lebanese artist and cultural practitioner, has recently created a thought-provoking photography book titled "Not Here Not There". The book was born out of an impromptu collaboration with the independent book publisher Middle East Archive, who shared some of Alkhoury's photographs on Instagram.
The visual language of the photographs in "Not Here Not There" is hazy and disoriented, mirroring the emotional tension felt by Alkhoury as an asylum seeker. The images span three cities significant to him: Byblos, Zouk Mosbeh, and Beirut. Byblos, his birthplace, Zouk Mosbeh, where he studied photography and multimedia, and Beirut, where he once envisioned building a life. The photographs were taken between 2019 and 2022.
The book balances stillness and energy to visually mirror the emotional tension experienced by Alkhoury. Most photos depict empty places to symbolize absence and fragmentation; only protest scenes include people, highlighting turbulence and social unrest. Alkhoury candidly shares memories associated with his home, such as sweaty nights outside bars, long summer days at the beach, and protests in the streets with friends.
One series in "Not Here Not There" features images taken from the window of Alkhoury's Beirut home, using glasses to distort roadside lights into soft heart-shaped glows. The photographs evoke an urgent, raw energy, and the book spans 88 pages.
As Alkhoury continues his journey, "Not Here Not There" marks a pause, but the photographs evoke his inner world and offer space for reflection on leaving, remembering, and carrying fragments of home. Alkhoury is currently living in Brussels, Belgium, and misses the Mediterranean Sea, which holds sway over his thoughts.
In addition to his photography book, Alkhoury is working on two new research-led projects that blend video and installation. One project explores occult practices as forms of resistance. The details of his second project are being kept secret for now.
"Not Here Not There" is available for purchase at middleastarchive.com for 35€. For those seeking to delve into the emotional journey of displacement and memory, this book provides a poignant and powerful exploration of these themes.
[1] Middle East Archive (2022). Charbel Alkhoury - Not Here Not There. [online] Available at: https://middleastarchive.com/shop/charbel-alkhoury-not-here-not-there [Accessed 18 Mar. 2023].
[2] Alkhoury, C. (2022). Charbel Alkhoury - Not Here Not There. [online] Available at: https://charbelalkhoury.com/not-here-not-there [Accessed 18 Mar. 2023].
Charbel Alkhoury's photographic book "Not Here Not There" delves into the realms of home-and-garden and lifestyle, as it captures and immortalizes his emotions and memories linked to the places he lived in, such as his Beirut home. Viewers can purchase the thought-provoking book from Middle East Archive's website for 35€.
