An intimate portrait of a Pashto community in eastern Afghanistan, the project focuses on the rituals, the work, and the values of this ethnic group.
Proceeding through a narrative of ancient human gestures, this project addresses how the civilian population was affected by ten years of American occupation in this historical moment when it is coming to an end and how the Taliban and their extremist ideologies are still grounded among the Pashto population.
In a single village we can find most of the dynamics that are peculiar of this country: the dangerous position of the civilians caught between the insurgency and the force of occupation (or the government), the drug trade and the toll that the conflict is taking on their children.
Two years ago I began to put together ideas and images for a photographic essay that could eventually become a book.
From the beginning it proved extremely difficult to access the areas where the Pashto ethnic groups lives. Here, most of the fighting takes place and the links with the insurgency are stronger. Every village and valley is a patchwork of local powers. Even more challenging, I needed to spend time in the same location in order to follow the life of the village.
I based myself in Afghanistan, developed my knowledge of the country, my photographic skills, and my experience on the making of photographic-books .
The images of this series were taken during three trips to Toorkhane and Lagubu, two small neighbouring villages in eastern Afghanistan.
Over the next year I will continue documenting this area. The knowledge and the relationships that I built in the last two years will facilitate my access.
Currently I am looking for funding in order to pay for a fixer and complete at least ten trips to a single village over the course of different seasons.
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