This Alabaster Grave by Cengiz Yar Photobook Signing & Artist Talk

Join documentary photographer Cengiz Yar and journalist Sangar Khaleel for an artist talk and conversation centered on This Alabaster Grave, Yar’s first monograph documenting the destruction of Mosul in the aftermath of the U.S.-led war against ISIS.
During this free presentation, Yar will discuss the making of the book, his long-term engagement with Mosul, and the responsibility of documenting trauma and war for future generations. Khaleel will offer on-the-ground context from years reporting in Iraq and Syria. The talk will conclude with an open Q&A, inviting audience discussion around photography, journalism, ethics, and memory.

This Alabaster Grave is Cengiz Yar's first monograph and explores the overwhelming destruction and pain faced by the Iraqi city of Mosul, within the context of its history and unique, now largely ruined, architecture. The book questions the cost of the fight against ISIS and global war on terror as told through the lives and city that bore the brunt of its destructive force. The photographs were made between 2015 and 2023 and fluctuate between reportage and moments of contemplation. The goal with this project was to create a document for future generations of Iraqis to learn about what happened to their city and to spread awareness in the United States about the impact our wars abroad have on local populations, history, and culture. TLDR: Mosul was largely destroyed as a result of America's war on terror. The book tries to grapple with that.

The book is translated into Arabic and has a poster-sized pullout map, showing pinpoints for where each photo in the book was taken. It includes a foreword from Azmat Khan, an essay by Campbell MacDiarmid, and was designed by Jason Koxvold of Gnomic Book.