The 2022 Arnold Newman Prize has announced its annual list of winners, finalists, and honorable mentions, featuring many talented photographers.
Established in 2009, the Arnold Newman Prize recognizes photographers whose works demonstrate a compelling vision in the genre of portraiture.
Among the prize’s 2022 list, the Lebanese-American photographer Rania Matar finished as a finalist for her project “Where Do I Go?” (لوين روح).
Rania Matar’s project showcases a natural and organic continuation of her project “SHE” which was published into a book by Radius.
“Where Do I Go?” revolves around the past 2 difficult years for Lebanon, and focuses on the 2019 uprising, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020.
During her recent trips to her homeland, the Lebanese-American photographer found hope in the younger generation of women, and instead of just focusing on destruction, Matar also reflected on their beauty, strength, and resilience.
“These women are at that crossroad. Where do they go? I was their age when I left Lebanon in 1984 during the Civil War. Some are leaving; others cannot afford to go anywhere. I want to empower them and tell their story,” said the photographer.
It is worth noting that the Lebanese-born American mother is reaching a high level of fame in the field of photography, winning many awards.
Her photographs pay homage to her culture, heritage, and personal narrative through the perspective of women’s empowerment.
She is also the mother of Samer Abouhamad, who is cycling from the United States to Patagonia to discover the world through his bicycle.
Related: Meet The Multi-Awarded Lebanese-American Photographer Rania Matar
