Photographer Captures Unspoken Narratives of Young Lebanese Women After 50 Years of Civil Conflict

A few years back, [Rania Matar](https://raniamatar.com/) made her way back to Lebanon, the land of her birth from which she had escaped nearly 40 years prior due to the civil war. She navigated through deserted structures with a young Lebanese woman, whom she aimed to capture in photographs for an upcoming project. Out of nowhere, the duo spotted something: [graffiti](https://mymodernmet.com/graffiti-art) written on a decaying wall, expressing a poignant query لوين روح؟ (*Where do I go?*). At that moment, Matar resolved that the question would serve as the central theme of her new series.

Now, half a century after the onset of the Lebanese Civil War, Matar is gearing up to release [*Where Do I Go?*](https://www.kaphbooks.com/books/where-do-i-go/), her latest compilation of photographs published by [Kaph Books](https://www.kaphbooks.com/). Within the 100 images of the book, we meet numerous women, peering out from behind decorative curtains; navigating through hollow buildings; and lounging in verdant settings, often dotted with remnants and devastation. Regardless of their surroundings, these images highlight the fortitude required to endure the nation’s precarious circumstances. More significantly, they reveal the challenges these young women face within their chaotic environment—and the choices they confront regarding staying or leaving their homes.

At the core of *Where Do I Go?* is a sense of collaboration. To create these photographs, Matar collaborated intimately with her subjects, uncovering ways to visually narrate their individual and collective experiences. For some women, this involved asserting their presence in abandoned spaces, including theatres, cinemas, and hotels. For others, it was about revealing their inner worlds through closely composed scenes, accentuating their movements, expressions, and attire.

“The photography sessions always unfold in an organic manner, with the women taking an active role in the creative process, claiming the setting and making it their own,” Matar shares in a personal reflection about the project. “Given the opportunity to express themselves, they become willing to try new things and venture into places neither of us imagined moments before.”

There exists, undeniably, a unifying theme in *Where Do I Go?*, connecting each photograph through a common narrative of fortitude, aspiration, conflict, and humanity. However, these portraits do not adhere to a rigid formula, despite being compiled in one collection. This is exactly why we explore a multitude of settings throughout the book, from the Mediterranean Sea and the rugged heights of Mount Lebanon to the traditional architecture of Beirut, alongside the city’s myriad layers of ruin and neglect.

“While my photographs may not offer resolutions or conclusions, I aspire for them to encourage viewers to pause and discover the beauty, hope, shared humanity, and grace that endure despite everything,” Matar remarks. “They are my love letters to the women of Lebanon.”

*Where Do I Go?* coincides with a significant exhibition bearing the same title, scheduled to open next spring at the [Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art](https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/) in Bloomington, IN. In addition to Matar’s photographs, the monograph includes academic essays and personal insights from Leila Reichert, Kim Ghattas, Youmna Melhem Chamieh, and Georges Boustany, along with a selection of vernacular Lebanese photographs from Boustany’s collection.

*Where Do I Go?* is currently available for preorder via [Kaph Books’s website](https://www.kaphbooks.com/books/where-do-i-go/). The exhibition will be displayed at the Eskenazi Museum from March 5 to August 2, 2026.

In her newest photography book, *Where Do I Go?*, Rania Matar showcases the resilience of young Lebanese women after 50 years of civil strife and turmoil.

**Rania Matar: [Website](https://raniamatar.com/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/raniamatar/)**

*My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Rania Matar.*

**Related Articles**:
– [Annie Leibovitz’s ‘Women’ Book Is a Daring Quest Into the Heart of Contemporary Womanhood](https://mymodernmet.com/women-annie-leibovitz-phaidon-photography-book/)
– [Andy Warhol’s Provocative Yet Intimate Polaroids Live Again in Downtown New York](https://mymodernmet.com/andy-warhol-the-dialectical-third-exhibition/)
– [Cinematic Photos Look Like Hyperrealistic Paintings With Mysterious Stories To Tell [Interview]](https://mymodernmet.com/summer-wagner-portrait-photography/)