Two people with text superimposed on the image
The San Francisco Public Library in partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission's Artist in Residence program is pleased to present The Ink of Identity: Rereading Afghanistan, a multimedia installation by 2022 Artist in Residence Gazelle Samizay!
Emerging from Samizay's desire to critically engage with and disrupt prevailing narratives in the SFPL's extensive collection of books on Afghanistan (dating back to 1762), this exhibition explores the complexities of Afghan identity and the impact of Western-authored literature on the understanding of Afghan history and culture, with a particular focus on Afghan American perspectives.
As part of her process, Samizay presented select library books to Afghan Americans, prompting responses and reflections via video. The material, some of which was unfamiliar to the interviewees, sparked questions about their own identities and lineages and often times the sharing of intimate personal and familial stories. The conversations captured a sense of distance from their homeland, not only geographically but also temporally, as the interviewees explored aspects of Afghanistan that have been lost over time.
In a library archive predominantly dominated by non-Afghan voices, The Ink of Identity seeks to reestablish the presence and perspectives of Afghans within the archival space. It strives to challenge preconceived notions and reshape the understanding of Afghanistan, inviting viewers to critically evaluate the discourse on Afghanistan, while reimagining the archive.