'Departures: A Journey Back into Syria' photo exhibition from May 5

Msheireb Museums, in collaboration with the French embassy in Doha, is set to host a unique photography exhibition from May 5-29 at Bin Jelmood House, featuring a series of 73 photographs by Syrian-French filmmaker and artist, Anas Khalaf.

Titled 'Departures: A Journey Back into Syria,' this exhibit is curated by Bachir Mohamed and serves as a personal and evocative exploration of memory, loss, and the deep connection to one’s homeland.

Khalaf, an acclaimed Syrian-French filmmaker and co-founder of Synéastes Films, documents his emotional return to Damascus, capturing the silent streets, lingering traces and the quiet strength of his late mother, a symbol of resilience and love amidst Syria's turbulent history.

“In her absence, Damascus became a bittersweet reminder of her life. Every street and corner seemed to whisper her name. The rituals she loved --- now silent and still --- turned into the journey I wanted to capture through my camera.

“I searched for the way sunlight streamed into our old courtyard, the hidden corners of the souq, the windows from which she might have watched the world go by, and the streets that once echoed with her footsteps. Even though she was no longer physically with me, it felt like she was everywhere, woven into the very essence of this city,” Khalaf said in a press statement.

French ambassador Jean-Baptiste Faivre said: “As a famous French novelist once wrote, 'Memory is a place we can never return to, but it is always with us,' and through these photographs, we bear witness to the ongoing journey of loss and hope”.

Msheireb Museums general manager Abdulla al-Naama said: “This exhibition is a moving tribute to the human spirit, of how love and memory endure despite human conflicts. Anas Khalaf's work not only tells his own story but also echoes the shared experiences of those who long for home.