Photographs offer a colonialist window to the past – one that must be challenged

 

https://www.mediastorm.com/clients/icp-infinity-awards/2023/ariella-azoulay

Growing up in Israel shaped Ariella Aïsha Azoula’s view of the world, political power and art.

“I was assigned a settler colonial identity,” Azoula said. “I refused to recognize myself in it.”

Although her work includes writing, imagery and photographic manipulation and criticism, she doesn’t consider herself an artist.

“The position of the artist is a very problematic one, tied to the history of imperialism,” Azoulay said.

Azoulay believes history as understood through images, artworks, museums and archives reflects a colonial view of the world and needs to be challenged.

“Unlearning it is necessary in all the different domains where we are working, either as historians or geographers or scholars of photography or even photographers,” she said.

For her works critiquing the role of photography, the International Center of Photography has awarded her the 2023 Infinity Award for Critical Writing, Research and Theory.

“The photograph is about a moment that is gone is something that I reject,” Azoulay said. “The invention of the past is a very powerful imperial construct.”

Published: Mar 29, 2023