Dying to Exist
Sakir Khader
Dying to Exist by Dutch-Palestinian photographer Sakir Khader offers a haunting and intimate portrayal of life in the Jenin refugee camp. Through striking photography and deeply personal stories, Khader captures the resilence, grief, and defiance of generations living under occupation. This powerful work sheds light on the everyday struggles of Palestinians, weaving together the naritives of martyrs, fighters, survivors and those left behind. A heart-wrenching exploration of identity, resistance, and the human cost of conflict.
Sakir Khader (born 1990 in The Netherlands) is a Dutch-Palestinian documentary photographer and filmmaker based in the Netherlands. He is especially known for his work in conflict areas, notably the Middle East. In 2021 he began documenting his homeland of Palestine. He started in Beita, his grandmother’s village, during the uprising of Sheikh Jarrah (a neighborhood in East Jerusalem).
The first few pages of Dying to Exist feature tender baby photographs. It are photos of Khader’s friends (as babies) who got killed in the Jenin refugee camp. Besides the nearly 500 photos the book contains handwritten letters from the subjects, recorded text conversations, an introductory essay, and an afterword by the photographer. It’s difficult for Khader to be detached from those he documents. He spends significant amounts of time with his subjects. It’s hard to learn when someone he photographed and spent time with later is killed.
Dying to Exist is not an easy book, but it depicts a reality for many Palestinians. When you see the photos and read the personal stories, you understand how difficult it is to break the spiral of violence. A new generation of fighters is being raised. After reading this book, it is difficult not to be pessimistic about the chances of peace in the Middle East.
Dying to Exist
Photographer: Sakir Khader
Publisher: 550BC
Published in 2024
Hardcover linen-bound with tipped-in photo and black foil embossed texts
304 pages, 481 images, 26 x 19 cm