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Ala Allah

© Charles Thiefaine

Ala Allah is a series of documentary images on everyday life. Charles Thiefaine attempts to drag the audience into the Iraqi society.

Through portraits, ordinary scraps to street life, we blend into the intimacy of these complex, anxious and greedy characters. Stories assemble and cross each others. Incomplete narratives are shaped, planting seed of doubt around one’s identity and personality.


Some of these photographs reveal the presence of the photograph in everyday moments such as family pictures or action scenes. Some others convene what is out of frame and out of time, this can take, for instance, the form of someone looking beyond the frame.

Thus, the series draws possible narratives, and leads the public towards events that have or will occur. No matter where the truth lies, this singular piece tries to reverse the dramatic vision we have on Iraqis daily reality, dodging the daze.

How are they putting up their environment? How are they occupying their territory? – Ala Allah – comes along with a set of thoughts, unfolding trough the narrative. It addresses various themes such as family, friends, teenage years, love or wedding, war, loneliness, memory, boredom or party.

click to view the complete set of images in the archive

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