Tsawwar… Luana Bassil

"The Cedars is one of the most peaceful places. It's where I often spend precious time with my family in Lebanon. On an afternoon stroll with my sister, we found ourselves enveloped in a gentle fog. She walked ahead of me, draped in a cozy blanket she had brought along. The world around us seemed to soften, and the moment felt just right—calm, serene, utterly perfect. I draw my inspiration from certain places by using characters to bring them to life. Inspired by films, I think that unconsciously create scenes or stories with each photo that I take. To escape political and personal challenges, I find refuge in the true riches of my country, its sea and mountains. Through photos, I seek to distance myself from the harsh and complex reality we live in, gently guiding the viewer towards what is most authentic: body and nature, far from the struggles of a suffering nation."

Tsawwar is an ongoing visual series in Daftar which explores the stories behind a photograph, taken in the region or by an Arab photographer, written in their own words. Luana Bassil is a filmmaker and photographer from Beirut, who's based in Brussels. Explore her work on @luanabassil