Armed with Words: Interpreting the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)

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This Visual Ethics Network event will explore the ethics of photography and visual activism by looking at a collaborative project entitled We Are Here, Because You Were There: Afghan Interpreters in the UK, created by the photographer Andy Barnham and Professor Sara de Jong from the Politics and International Relations Department of the University of York. This ongoing project explores the trauma of war and how it was experienced by both Afghan interpreters who worked for the British Army in the Afghanistan war and their families (2001-2021) and by veteran advocates. By involving both portrait photography and testimonies, the visual outcome incorporates visually edited images and quotes by the aforementioned interviewed participants. The event will tackle questions of trauma, injury, military intervention, forced migration, political solidarity and how these are approached and made visible through research-based portrait photography and visual design, as a way of addressing and interrogating complex ethical issues. 

The series is currently exhibited at Impressions Gallery, Bradford (until 04 May 2024) and sections can be viewed at the ground floor of the Spring Lane Building of the University of York.

Schedule

15.30 – 15.50: Group visit of the show at Spring Lane Building, University of York campus [This installation is part of the "Art of Politics" Trail]

15.50 – 16.10: Tea and Coffee, Humanities Research Centre foyer (ground floor) – event will take place at Bowland Auditorium, HRC (ground floor)

16.10 – 16.20: Introductory talk by Dr Kyveli Lignou-Tsamantani, art historian

16.20 – 17.00: Talk and screening by photographer Andy Barnham and Prof. Sara de Jong 

17.00 – 17.20: In conversation between Andy Barnham and Prof. Sara de Jong, facilitated by Dr Kyveli Lignou-Tsamantani

17.20 – 17.30: Q & A