The goal of this project was to better the attitudes and lessen the prejudices of Jews and Arabs, citizens of Israel, in relationship to each other. Groups that are at odds with each other often fail to learn how to speak each other's language, (in this case I don't mean Hebrew and Arabic, I mean it in a cultural, spiritual and psychological sense), and their tendency is to see each other larger or smaller than life-size.
My goal was to ameliorate this problem by having young Jewish and Arab men and women do a photographic project together. I stipulated that the goal was to learn respect for and consideration of each other through participating in each other's daily lives. To learn to like and love was not my prime concern.
The participants went into each other's communities where they photographed each other and the surroundings. I recorded their reactions to the work and one minute autobiographies.
The participants went in pairs. I accompanied them when possible. I encouraged experimentation and artistic freedom. Along the way I took photographs, some of which I have contributed to the project.
Mark Berghash
Creator and Director of Project
AT EYE LEVEL
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