
Yemen: A Fractured Reality Exhibition Opening
The Photographic Gallery (P059 Abdul Latif Jameel hall)
AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
Details
Over the past decade, the proxy war in Yemen has largely remained off the radar for international media. Much of the coverage focused on the Saudi-led coalition's campaigns aimed at dislodging the Houthi rebel group and restoring Yemen’s internationally recognized government. However, following the Houthi attacks on Israel-bound ships crossing the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea—in retaliation for Israel’s assault on Gaza—the world began to take notice of Yemen and the growing power of the rebel group. Acting as a proxy for Iran-led Axis of Resistance, the group has come to dominate the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula,
Caught in this conflict between foreign actors are the people of Yemen who continue to suffer from this endless war. Asmaa Waguih takes us on a visual tour across Yemen with her camera; from the bustling markets of the capital, Sana'a, to the shores of Hodeidah, the western port city that became a lifeline for all Houthi-controlled territories. The series of photographs capture the daily life of Yemen from the eastern city of Marib to the besieged cultural hub of Taiz, and finally to the fragmented territory of south Yemen. Her body of work centers on the humanitarian crisis in this forgotten proxy war to tell the story of a people suffering in silence under repeated cycles of destruction. Waguih’s powerful photos highlight the resilience of the Yemeni people, giving a broader picture of a country turned into a battlefield by international proxy players.
Asmaa Waguih is an independent photojournalist based in her hometown of Cairo, with over two decades of experience working with top agencies around the world. Her work focuses on the Arab world and Islamic communities. She worked for Reuters News Agency for eight years, covering multiple conflicts, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She is the recipient of the Reuters Photographer of the Year award for her coverage of the Arab Spring in Egypt, Libya, and Syria. Since 2016, she has been traveling regularly to Yemen to document the ongoing conflict and recently published the photo book Yemen, an Unfinished War.