Lenses Across Time: Views of Afghanistan

There has been a long history of British engagement with Afghanistan, but for so much of the past two centuries the focus has been on warfare and control, and less on engaging with the rich cultural heritage of the country.  

In contrast, this expressive exhibition features striking large-format photos of people and monuments from across Afghanistan, recorded by Bruce Wannell and Robert Hillenbrand.

Curated by Richard McClary of the University of York and Tamanna Faqirzada Krami, formerly of the British Council in Kabul, Afghanistan, the exhibition includes images from both before and after the long period of conflict that started with the Soviet invasion in 1979. 

Exhibition opening times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am to 4pm; Saturday, 10am to 4pm

The Bruce Wannell Memorial Exhibition

You may also be interested in another Bruce Wannell Memorial Exhibition running throughout the Festival, ‘Arts of the Islamic World’ and the Annual Bruce Wannell Memorial Lecture, ‘The Cultural Heritage of Afghanistan’ on 3 June.

Photo credit: Robert Hillenbrand 

About the curators

Dr Richard McClary is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History of Art at the University of York with research interests in the field of Islamic art and architecture of the Medieval period.

Tamanna Faqirzada Krami is the former Arts Programme Manager at the British Council in Kabul, Afghanistan.

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