Being.Lost invites us to confront the powerful, painful experience of loss and the uncertainty accompanying it. Through the work of photographer Shamal Hisamadin and sound artist Hardi Kurda, this exhibition sheds light on the personal and collective stories of families affected by displacement, conflict, and the ongoing search for loved ones.

The photographs by Shamal Hisamadin document the haunting realities of families from the towns of the gate of revolution district. Many residents of these areas have fled in search of a better life, leaving their families with a painful silence as their fate remains uncertain. Beyond the faces of these families, these images capture the weight of their longing, their grief, and the unresolved questions troubling their minds. Each photograph is a silent testament to the resilience of people living in the shadow of loss. Family members live with items left behind by their loved ones, who have been lost to the harsh road that they had hoped would lead to opportunity.

Aligned with Shamal’s photographs, Hardi’s sound installation takes visitors on an intimate journey of grief, expression, and remembrance. The exhibition space features a transparent wall equipped with phones where visitors are invited to share their memories, reflections, and feelings of loss. These messages and personal testimonies will be broadcasted through a small radio station, allowing others to hear the stories, the grief, and the process of healing that binds us all together. The radio becomes a shared space for listening and for connecting, enabling visitors to engage with one another’s experiences and reflect on their own. 

Radios are an intimate object for Hardi Kurda, having served as a lifeline in his own migration. When he left Kurdistan for Europe in the 1990s, when the people taking these dangerous routes were not allowed to carry phones or personal belongings, the radio became a crucial tool for tracking his progress—he identified his location by recognizing the languages being broadcast. Connecting the radio with these images reveals the risky journey on the other side of the narratives presented in the exhibition.

This exhibition, located  in the Central Park of Ranya, is not only about witnessing stories of loss—it is about collectively navigating the difficult terrain of grief. It is about the act of sharing, listening, and processing loss together, especially in a region in which many families are still separated by borders and precarity. As a community, we are invited to explore the different ways we process grief, how we listen to others, and how we see each other through moments of profound sadness.                                                           

Being.Lost takes its name from the uncertainty felt on all sides of the multifaceted experience of loss. An individual is lost when they are separated from their family and home, but the families who suffer in their absence also become lost. This applies not only to those who have disappeared but also to those who have relocated and feel out of place in their new surroundings. In a region scarred by war and its aftermath, life is lived on the border between lost and found.

This exhibition challenges us to explore the feelings that arise when we confront loss, to reflect on the ways we see and listen, and to join together in shared remembrance and healing.

As the Kurdistan Center for Arts and Culture (KCAC), we are proud to announce Being.Lost, an exhibition exploring the stories of displaced peoples and the enactments of loss, as captured through Shamal Hisamaddin’s photography and an evocative sound installation Hardi Kurda, all brought together through the vision of curators Niga Salam and Anna Zamecka. 

In times of growth and continuity, we reflect in a shared state on how we choose to remember and on what we can collectively overcome in order to bring ease and safe return. KCAC holds the shared memories of our people and its collective impact at the center of our work. Of utmost importance to us is ensuring the stories told by creatives in Kurdistan are shared authentically, in unison with local communities, bridging gaps of expression. 

With our inaugural exhibition, Blue Orange, we introduced digital 
 art to a historic building in the heart of Akre, in the shadows of the mountains that have inspired generations of Kurdish artists. Over its month-long run, the exhibition welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors, expanding access to contemporary art and engaging new audiences.

Ranya, known for its pivotal role in Kurdistan’s 1991 Uprisings, holds a legacy of resistance, perseverance, and remembrance. We remain dedicated to bringing the arts to the very regions of Kurdistan that have shaped them—as KCAC, we affirm that art is not just for displaying in big cities, but is a powerful tool for bringing people together and sparking new conversations in underserved areas.

The choice of Ranya’s Public Park as the venue is an intentional one. We aim to emphasize that these stories belong not in isolation, but in our shared public spaces where they can be acknowledged, discussed, and processed together. As you move through the exhibition, we encourage you to take time not only to observe but to reflect on your own experiences and those of your community.

In introducing this exhibition, we affirm that the act of bearing witness—to loss, to absence, to the ongoing search for loved ones, and most of all to hope—is itself an act of perseverance. We invite you to strengthen your bonds and share your stories at Being.Lost. 

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