VIFAS is proud to announce the following event:
KITES, GUNS and DREAMS
Images of Afghanistan by Canadian documentary photographers
An exhibition featuring the work of four renowned Canadian documentarians:
Roger Lemoyne, Robert Semeniuk, Lana Slezic and Christopher Grabowski.
UBC Robson Square Downtown Campus, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
Opening: Thursday, October 14th at 7 pm
Exhibition: Thursday, October 14th to Nov 3rd 2004
Exhibition hours: 8 am – 10 pm
Campus contact: 604-822-3333
http://www.robsonsquare.ubc.ca/
The images in Kites, Guns and Dreams span the past decade of Afghanistan’s long and difficult history, focusing primarily on civilian life. In the words of Roger LeMoyne: “In the wars of the last decade, the greatest number of casualties was among non-combatants. There has been an increasing use of civilian populations as a weapon: they are used as cover, bargaining chips, targets of psychological warfare, or as another resource for soldiers to exploit.”
The photographs in this show shrink the geographic and cultural distance between Canada and Afghanistan, between us and them. In the midst of the heart-breaking devastation of their beautiful land, the grace and kindness as well as the resilience and ferocity of the Afghan people is clearly rendered.
Panel discussions
UBC Robson Square Downtown Campus, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver
Afghanistan Now, October 22nd at 7 pm.
The dialogue Afghanistan Now features a panel of experts: Shahnaz Quayumi on psychological trauma, Dr. Karim Quayumi on healthcare and Dr. Brian Job, Director of the Centre of International Relations, on security and reconstruction. The evening begins with a presentation by the Institute for Media, Policy and Civil Society on Canadian support for the free media in Afghanistan.
Photographing There, October 23rd at 3 pm.
Dialog on documentary photography with photographers featured in the exhibition and other documentarians, members of Narrative 360.
Kite tournament
Vanier Park behind the Vancouver Planetarium
Saturday, October 16th from 11 am to 3 pm
The Vancouver Institute for Afghan Studies and Narrative 360 are holding a Kite Tournament on Saturday, October 16th. Kite flying is a popular pastime deeply rooted in Afghan culture. Annual kite tournaments in Kabul drew huge crowds until the tradition was interrupted under Taliban rule when kite flying was forbidden.
The members of the Vancouver Institute for Afghan Studies will hold presentations and performances reflecting different aspects of Afghan culture during this event.
Textbook collection for Kabul University http://www.narrative360.com/kites/Message.htm – top
Throughout the show and at the kite tournament, the public is invited to bring donations of used textbooks. The books will be forwarded to the University of Kabul.
For more information, please email Narrative 360 http://www.narrative360.com/kites/Message.htm – top
