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Masoumeh Mohammadi & Alexa Vachon, Masoumeh: In Hope of Peace

Photography zine

Minimalist design that combines highly personal photos and texts to give an immersive view of life in the wake of conflict.

The handmade zine is a visual research about migration, belonging, and women's experiences in the wake of conflict. It tells the story of Masoumeh, a women's soccer coach who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took over.

 Masoumeh: In Hope of Peace photography zine

about

Masoumeh: In Hope of Peace, is a smaller project within Alexa Vachon's research into the experiences of international female amateur soccer players. Made over a seven-year period (2015-2022), the overarching project includes footage of players in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Germany. Masoumeh: In Hope of Peace, explores the story of the women's soccer coach Masoumeh Mohammadi. She - like most of her fellow players - fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took over. 

design

Motivated by Alexa Vachon, Masoumeh Mohammadi herself photographed important moments in her personal life. The book does not differentiate between Alexa's and Masoumeh's photographs. This is important to mention because it advocates recognition of equality based on letting her tell her story in her own way but also by respecting her opinions and feelings. Cultural expression in and of itself may be a political act for a group whose opportunities for creative voices have been limited. Collaborating together and opening up a dialogue is the core of this project.

The design of the photography zine plays with the idea of movement and being stuck in your tracks. The design of the photography zine plays with the idea of movement and being stuck in your tracks. This is reflected in the edit but also in the design of the zine where photos reach over the edge to connect or disconnect with the photos on the other pages. 

Together we asked ourselves what does an equal society look like? What unequal structures do we really need to leave behind? and how does living in limbo fit into the contemporary realities of migration and conflict? 

cases

Client

Alexa Vachon

Year

2022

Services

Collaboration

Photographer Alexa Vachon & Masoumeh Mohammadi, editor Alexa Vachon, graphic design studio Asja Keeman.

Website

Photography zine

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