Brothers in arms
Thankfully, the significance of the term ‘love that dare not speak its name’ has been somewhat watered down since its 19th century inception.
However, elsewhere in the world, homosexuality remains a ‘crime’ punishable by death.
It’s perhaps this fact that makes Bran Symondson’s brave, intimate and stunning collection of photographs from Afghanistan all the more incredible.
Symondson’s show, The Best View of Heaven is from Hell, is the product of the ex-soldier’s return to conflict-torn Afghanistan, creating a photographic study of Afghan National Police.
The idea for the photographs arose when Symondson was on tour with the British Army in Afghanistan, and became fascinated by the lives of the policemen.
His arrestingly vivid, bold photographs present a compelling narrative of the hidden side of the ANP, presenting a world where women are hidden away and men turn to one another for intimacy.
His reportage offers a starkly intimate portrait of the secret lives of these men. The images include a portrait of the ‘chai boy’, who plays a courtesan-like role within the group – he is looked after and educated by the other men in return for sexual favours, and uses his physicality to manipulate his elders.
The bold pink flowers jar against the men’s expression and the war-torn background, creating a truly astonishing series of images.
The Best View of Heaven is from Hell runs from 28 January – 20 February at the Idea Generation Gallery, 11 Chance Street, Shoreditch, London E2.
Read this next
The idea is really when you get to Gucci Watches like a tourbillon reason loses a lot of meaning. Art is what makes sense and here Alain Silberstein is having fun (like he always does). Not everyone is a fan of his aesthetic -Armani watches that is OK. I believe design aesthetics Cheap BMW Watches such as his are meant to be polarizing. In the Black Storm watch is a manually wound tourbillon based movement Cheap Rolex Watches that I believe are exclusive to his pieces. He doesn’t make the movements, but no one else has them.