Exhibit Description

1,001 Syrian Nights is an exhibition of previously unpublished works from photographer Jason Hamacher’s personal archive of pre-war Syria photographs. Hamacher has chosen sixteen large-format panoramic images to showcase Aleppo’s skyline before it was heavily damaged and the city’s beauty after dark. Hamacher’s entire archive was recently acquired by The Library of Congress for its permanent collection.

Hamacher aims to confront the audience with simultaneous visions of grandeur and resilience, not just the destruction so commonly associated with Syria. Aleppo went from being virtually unknown in the United States to becoming the symbol for international catastrophe. As Aleppo rebuilds, the international community needs a renewed resolve to secure lasting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Syria.

1,001 Syrian Nights is printed with pigmented inks on a mould base cotton paper traditionally held as the oldest and most renowned paper in Europe. This is Hamacher’s first exhibit in his own Lost Origins Gallery.

Hamacher’s combination of photography, sound, and personal experience of Syria offers an unparalleled immersion into one of the world’s oldest civilizations. His adventurist spirit, passion for people, and love of culture earned him the trust of Syrians across all socio-economic classes, allowing him to truly capture the essence of the Syrian landscape and its people.  He was there x number of times in x years and his collection of sound and image were recently added into the permanent collection at The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

Jason Hamacher is the founder and director of Lost Origin Productions and the Lost Origins Gallery. He contributes to the international conversation on Syria with frequent commentaries such as with National Public Radio, the United Nations, BBC World Service, Al Jazeera, Voice of America, Huffington Post, and the Washington Post.

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