Past tense

Jerusalem Flag (2018/2026)

American Colony Photographers, Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-03614_04131]. Dimensions: 200 x 220 cm

The project is a study of century-old photographs in an attempt to understand the present-day reality. The focus is primarily on Jerusalem and its urban landscape, delving into the transformations of the city’s urban space, its reconfiguration by and for the new occupiers, its reconstructed historicity and remodeled image to service a newfangled narrative.

Through a process of overlaying present-day photographs, taken from the very spot where historic photographs were taken, I am emulating archeologists, excavating layers of history zooming in on specific sites and following leads through Jerusalem’s streets, buildings, hills and trees.

The project places the photograph and the act of photo documenting and archiving, at the forefront of historical research and studies, shifting our perception of those old photos of Jerusalem – holy sites, souks, alleyways and nomads – from being mere romantic and nostalgic representations of “glorious” bygone times, to documents rich with information, facts and real stories. 

It’s an attempt at capturing the intrigues of colonialism in Jerusalem and its aftermath through photo-overlays, collages, plans, renderings, expert reports and eye-witness accounts, creating a body of work that is both visually and intellectually engaging.

Jerusalem’s landscape is a palimpsest of competing ideologies, where each layer of stone and soil bears witness to the violence of curation. This project reveals that preservation is never neutral; it is an act of power, privileging certain histories while silencing others. Visual archaeology, as practiced here, becomes a form of counter-mapping, challenging the colonial gaze by resurrecting absences and interrogating the politics of visibility.

Ultimately, the project compels us to ask: Who is permitted to belong in a "holy" city? The answer lies not in the stones but in the stories they obscure. By layering past and present, the project rejects the colonial nostalgia that freezes Jerusalem in a mythical past, instead insisting on its lived, dynamic present. The city’s tragedy is not its holiness but the relentless weaponization of that holiness to justify erasure. In this light, visual archaeology becomes an act of ethical remembrance, a refusal to let the violence of curation have the final word. Jerusalem’s true sanctity lies not in its monuments but in the enduring sumud (steadfastness) of its people, whose roots, like those of the uprooted olive trees, persist beneath the asphalt, waiting to break through.

Surrender (2019/2026)

The surrender of Jerusalem to the British, December 9, 1917. British general arriving at Jaffa Gate. Jerusalem, 9 Dec. 1917. American Colony Photographers, Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-00167]. Dimensions: 120 x 110 cm

Photograph of the old city wall and gate with a group of people walking through, street signs, traffic lights, and a modern vehicle in the foreground. The wall and gate appear historical and are part of an ancient city entrance.

Demo at New Gate (2017/2026)

Arab demonstrations on Oct. 13 and 27, 1933. In Jerusalem and Jaffa. Arab demonstration at the New Gate. Police cordon stopping the procession. Jerusalem, 13 October 1933. American Colony Photographers, Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-15785]. Dimensions: 120 x 89 cm

Photograph of an ancient stone gate or city wall with a tower, some people, and ruins in front of it. The sky is cloudy.

Golden Gate (2019/2026)

The Golden Gate (exterior), Holy Land. Created/Published between ca. 1890 and ca. 1900. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC [LC-DIG-ppmsca-02701]. Dimensions: 100 x 140 cm

Ancient stone city gate with multiple people walking through and sitting near small shop tables outside, surrounded by historic stone walls, with a cactus plant on the right.

Lions Gate (2019/2026)

St. Stephen's Gate, Jerusalem, Holy Land. Created/Published between ca. 1890 and ca. 1900. Library of Congress Prints and Photo Division, Washington, D.C. 20540. LC-DIG-ppmsca-02702. Dimensions: 100 x 130 cm

Comparison of an old stone castle wall in color on the left with a black-and-white historical photo on the right of the same wall, showing the Porte de Sion entrance in Jerusalem with people and signs visible.

Zion Gate (2019/2026)

Jerusalem (El-Kouds). Zion Gate. American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1898–1914. Matson Photograph Coll, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-06554]. Dimensions: 100 x 130 cm

Night view of an ancient stone gate with an archway, illuminated by warm lights, and a sky with the moon overhead. Buildings with signs are visible on either side of the street, with people walking and a horse-drawn carriage in the foreground.

New Gate Camel (2019/2026)

Damascus Gate and environs. New Gate. American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1934–1939. Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-00702]. Dimensions: 100 x 110 cm

A black and white photograph of a man and woman standing on a rocky foundation with ancient stone walls, overlooking a cityscape with a dome-shaped building in the background. The woman is wearing a dress and a hat, and the man is wearing a suit and hat, holding a cane. The scene appears to be from an older time period, possibly early 20th century, and the photograph is mounted on an outdoor metal stand.

Above Damascus Gate (2019/2026)

View of Jerusalem city wall above the Damascus Gate. American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1934–1939. Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-04173]. Dimensions: 100 x 100 cm

A cityscape view from an elevated vantage point, showing a domed building in the foreground with a dark metal roof, and numerous residential structures with rooftop installations, with a hilly landscape and scattered buildings in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.

Jerusalem from Lutheran Church Tower (2018/2026)

American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1898–1946. Matson Photographs Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-04947]. Dimensions: 100 x 150 cm

A partially destroyed stone building with arched windows on the left, a blue sky with a few clouds, and a tree in the background. There is construction debris and a few people walking among the rubble at ground level.

Jewish Quarter (2019/2026)

Mosque of Omar [i.e., Dome of the Rock], etc. Temple area from Zion. American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1900–1920. Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-00886]. Dimens: 100 x 100 cm

A view of a city with a prominent gold-domed building and minaret, people walking and standing in the foreground, trees and hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

Moroccan Neighborhood (2019/2026)

Western wall of Temple area. Distant view of so-called Wailing Wall. American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1920-1933. Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-15160]. Dimens: 100 x 100 cm

Collage of photos, including a stone fortress entrance, city streets with cars and buses, a soldier sculpture, and exterior shots of buildings and trees.

Jaffa Road Military Police (2019/2026)

Deserted Jaffa Road showing military police on guard [Jerusalem]. American Colony Photographers. Published 19 October 1938. Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-18821]. Dimensions: 120 x 72 cm

A large open stone doorway looking out onto an outdoor scene with a group of people walking through. There is a white building with balconies and palm trees in the background. The photo has a layered effect with a black and white silhouette of the people in the foreground and the full-color scene beyond.

Jaffa Gate 1917 (2017/2026)

The surrender of Jerusalem to the British, December 9, 1917. The first British guard at the Jaffa Gate. Hol Lars (Lewis) Larsson, American Colony Photographers. Created / Published: December 9, 1917. Matson (G. Eric) Photographs Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-00165]. Dimensions: 100 x 150 cm

The image depicts the historical entrance of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The top part shows a detailed stonework design with arched windows, while the bottom part appears to be an overlay of an older photograph of the same entrance, giving a historical perspective. There are tourists standing and walking near the entrance, and some are taking pictures, with bright daylight indicating it is daytime.

Holy Sepulchre / British Soldiers (2017/2026)

Various results of the war. British guard at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1917–18. Matson (G. Eric) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-02255]. Dimensions: 100 x 130 cm

The image shows the Western Wall in Jerusalem, with stone ruins and a partly reconstructed ancient gateway. There are people walking and sitting, some on horses, and a sign indicating a tourist office called 'Cooks' nearby. The sky is blue with a few clouds.

Jaffa Gate Cooks (2018/2026)

The Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem, Holy Land. Created/Published between 1890–1900. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC [LC-DIG-ppmsca-02688]. Dimensions: 100 x 110 cm

A historic stone castle with an arched entrance and crenellated walls against a clear blue sky. People are walking and sitting in front of it, and some are standing on a balcony overlooking the scene.

Liquorice seller (2019/2026)

Gates of the city of Jerusalem, [Jaffa Gate, pre-1918]. American Colony Photographers, Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-08594]. Dimensions: 100 x 100 cm

Street scene inside Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem with a black and white vintage photograph overlay showing historical people and buildings, including a clock tower. Modern scene shows people walking, cafes, and multi-story stone buildings with balconies, flags, and umbrellas.

Jaffa Gate Clock Tower (2018/2026)

Jerusalem (El-Kouds). Street scene inside the Jaffa Gate. American Colony Photographers. Created/Published between 1912 and 1917. Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-06546]. Dimensions: 100 x 150 cm

Street scene with trees, buildings, utility poles, and overhead wires. Multiple police officers walking along the sidewalk, with a reflection or superimposed black and white historical photo of soldiers in uniform over the scene.

Prisoners of War (2019/2026)

German prisoners of war in Jerusalem, [Jaffa street] 1918. American Colony Photographers, Matson (G. Eric) Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, DC [LC-DIG-matpc-02266]. Dimensions: 100 x 80 cm