exhibition

Sakir Khader

Yawm al-Firak

Yawm al-Firak (Day of Farewell/يَوْم الْفِرَاق ) marks Sakir Khader’s debut solo exhibition in a museum setting. As a Palestinian Dutch photographer and the first member of Magnum Photos of Palestinian descent, Khader brings to light the stories of those whose lives abruptly ended during the occupation of Palestine, along with the narratives of those they left behind. The work delves into the fragile boundary between life and death, reflecting on the universal theme of farewell amidst the horrors of war and displacement.

About the exhibition

Central to the exhibition are seven mothers, each of whom has lost a son. The number seven, symbolizing completeness and unity across cultures and religions, frames the endless cycle of loss since the Nakba. By focusing on these seven families, Khader transforms an incomprehensible collective tragedy into deeply personal narratives.

The title Yawm al-Firak is taken from an 8th-century poem by the Arab poet Abu Nuwas, whose verses poignantly convey themes of separation and farewell. This literary reference ties the families’ stories to universal human experiences of love, grief, and resilience. 

Grieving mothers. Jenin refugee camp, Palestine. June, 2023 © Sakir Khader/Magnum Photos.

About the artist

Sakir Khader (1990) is a Palestinian-Dutch visual artist. Khader's work focuses on the relation between life and death in conflict zones, especially across the Middle East. Known for his raw yet intimate cinematic signature style, Sakir always seeks to illuminate the poetic sorrows of everyday life. He has made several short films and his first documentary series The Ruins of Iraq was released in 2020. His documentary Obada was selected for a Golden Calf at the Netherlands Film Festival in 2021. In 2022, he won the Silver Camera Award for a photo of an 11-year-old Afghan boy selling his kidney to feed his family, and in 2023 he won again for his photo series The Life on the West Bank before 7 October. In 2024 Sakir Khader joined Magnum Photos as the first Palestinian photographer.

Portrait of a person holding an anonymous person close

explore connections

Sakir Khader

Yawm al-Firak