Tawakkol Karman Foundation organized an event and photo exhibition titled "Yemen Through a Swedish Lens" from July 6-7, 2024, at the Culture and Arts Center in Istanbul, Türkiye. The event aimed to showcase aspects of Yemen's past by documenting the daily lives of its people, cultural diversity, and historical landmarks captured by Swedish doctor Björn Wenngren, renowned for his extensive collection of photographs taken in Yemen from the 1970s to the 1980s.
During the opening ceremony, Tawakkol Karman, Chairwoman of Tawakkol Karman Foundation, delivered a speech in which she stated that the worst thing that could happen to a country is for it to lose its memory, making it vulnerable to exploitation.
Karman emphasized that "Dr. Björn, along with other scholars and photographers, witnessed Yemen's transition from one era to another."
She explained that "Dr. Björn came to Yemen at a time when it was shaking off the dust of the Imamate and striving to catch up with civilization and progress."
Addressing Dr. Björn Wenngren, Karman said, "We would have liked to meet in one of the Yemeni cities you know so well to renew and share memories with you, but as you know, Yemen is enduring a complex and destructive war involving both near and far parties."
Karman affirmed that "photography is crucial in preserving memory, documenting important moments and events in the lives of individuals, communities, and nations, and allowing us to understand the various emotions, lifestyles, and circumstances people experience."
She expressed her hope that "this event and others like it will encourage more young people, in particular, to use photography to document the daily lives and struggles of people and to capture the transformations occurring within society."
Following this, a discussion session was held with Dr. Björn Wenngren, during which he provided insights into the historical and cultural context of his photographs, offering a deeper perspective on Yemen's past and present.
During the discussion, Dr. Wenngren answered questions from the audience and later visited a Yemeni coffee corner and the Yemeni section organized on the sidelines of the event, which also included musical performances.
On the second day of the event, participants toured the photo exhibition organized by the foundation, which showcased daily life captured by Dr. Björn Wenngren during his visits to Yemen, documenting the lives of its people and some historical landmarks during a significant period in Yemen's history.
The event aimed to reintroduce Yemen beyond the devastation of war as a country rich in culture and history, supporting Yemenis in reclaiming that ideal image and overcoming the impacts of conflict.
