Zair Ahmed

Homes

7 May -  1st June

Homestead Gallery 2

“Homes”, features a collection of photographs that highlight the resilience of communities fighting to preserve their homes, cultures, and way of life in the face of external pressures.

This exhibition showcases portraits of rice farmers working on the slopes of active volcanoes in Indonesia, cooks living on the cold mountaintops of Vietnam, and disabled farmers in northern India who continue their labour despite physical challenges. It will also feature the Dalits in India, struggling against the caste system and land takeovers, and the Baduy people in Java, who resist government efforts to modernise their way of living.

A particularly striking example is the Amazigh artists of Morocco, who create intricate art under the searing heat of the Sahara. Their art is a testament to their culture’s endurance amidst government mandates and modernisation. Similarly, the Nubians along the Nile fight to maintain their ancestral lands and traditions as development encroaches.

Through intimate portraits and interviews, this exhibition explores the universal struggle to maintain one’s home and cultural identity against environmental, social, and political pressures. It’s a celebration of human resilience and the deep emotional connection between people and their homelands.

Artist bio

As a photographer and storyteller, my work is driven by a deep passion for capturing human stories. My photography focuses on documenting the resilience, adaptability, and vibrancy of people from diverse cultures across the world. From the rice farmers of Indonesia to the Dalits of India, the Amazigh of Morocco to the Baduy of Java, my lens seeks to explore the personal and collective struggles of those fighting to preserve their homes, cultures, and identities in the face of social, environmental, and political pressures.

One of my most significant projects, Humans of Canberra, highlighted the everyday lives of individuals in my hometown and garnered over 14,000 followers. This experience fuelled my desire to delve deeper into the human condition, telling stories that transcend borders and bring to light shared experiences of love, resilience, and survival.

Through my travels across Vietnam, Australia, Egypt, Morocco, and India, I’ve sought to document communities navigating rapid modernisation, globalisation, and societal marginalisation. Each portrait I capture is an attempt to convey the powerful connection people have to their homes and cultures, showing how they find meaning amidst change.

I aim to continue this journey of storytelling through photography, documenting the unseen stories of those who fight to retain their cultural heritage and sense of belonging in a constantly evolving world.