Emily Garthwaite: Photography, Resilience, and the Soul of Iraq

A Photographer's Journey to Iraq

• 📸 Emily Garthwaite, a photographer and artist, shares her extensive experiences documenting Iraq since 2017, focusing on the Arbaeen pilgrimage and the country's culture.
• 💡 Her artistic calling began at age 14 after a devastating forest fire, leading to her first publication as a photojournalist.
• 🌍 Garthwaite's early life involved moving between Jersey, Australia, and the UK, fostering a sense of wanderlust that aligns with her nomadic lifestyle.

Navigating Culture and Perception

• ✈️ Her first trip to Iraq in 2017 was a spontaneous decision for a cultural documentary project, despite having no prior exposure to Muslim or Arab cultures.
• ⚠️ Initial experiences involved navigating cultural nuances with forgiveness, learning about appropriate behavior and dress.
• 📰 A significant frustration stemmed from the disconnect between her profound experiences in Iraq and the negative media portrayal, fueling her desire to return and share a more nuanced perspective.
• 🤝 Garthwaite shifted her focus from convincing external audiences to collaborating with and supporting Iraqi communities, recognizing the importance of listening and amplifying their voices.

Documenting Iraq's Resilience and Heritage

• 🏞️ Her work aims to showcase Iraq in all its shades, emphasizing everyday life and resilience over solely focusing on critical or destructive narratives.
• 💧 The challenges of the drying marshes are documented, noting the resilience of the ecosystem and the importance of continued observation and return.
• 🌍 Iraq's vulnerability to climate change and its exclusion from global climate conversations are highlighted, advocating for the inclusion of Iraqi change-makers.
• 🏛️ Garthwaite explores Iraq's rich ancient history, from Mesopotamia and Babylon to the vast archaeological potential yet to be unearthed, contrasting it with the reductive educational systems that often overlook this heritage.

Hospitality, Art, and Personal Connection

• ❤️ She describes Iraq as a country of profound hospitality, where open-door policies and community focus are deeply ingrained, contrasting it with experiences in the UK.
• 🎨 Garthwaite invests in Iraqi artisans and collects art by Iraqi painters, supporting the local art scene.
• 🚂 A memorable project involved documenting the Baghdad to Basra train journey, capturing the country's humor, resilience, and the diverse stories of its people.
• 🙏 Profound experiences in shrines, particularly Imam Ali's shrine in Najaf, are described as places of tranquility and peace, offering a different perspective on faith and collective consciousness.
• 🤝 Her personal growth includes overcoming fear and shame, embracing fearlessness, and finding joy and connection in Iraq, which she considers her happiest place.

Preserving Culture and Future Aspirations

• 🖼️ She emphasizes the importance of consent in photography, especially when documenting women and sensitive subjects, prioritizing community well-being over capturing a moment.
• 👩‍🏫 Garthwaite is involved in mentoring Iraqi female photographers and co-founded the Zagros Mountain Trail, a hiking trail in the Kurdistan region.
• 🌟 Her dream is to see Iraq's rich cultural heritage and potential recognized globally, advocating for more attention and support for its preservation and development.