HODA

by Mahmoud Merjan

Limited edition of 200 copies

The story behind this publication starts with a box full of torn photos, found by the artist at his grandmother’s apartment in Saida (Sidon). Taking a closer look at the images, a pattern unfolds: it seems like Hoda had the peculiar habit of mutilating photos to edit people out of them.

“Many of the obliterated figures are immediate family, most notably my grandfather, whom she divorced (twice), and her sister, with whom she lived until her recent passing. Her parents remained untouched (for the most part), as did her children, and herself.”

Using a special digital printing technique involving printing white ink on black paper before over-printing the images, and a playful concertina binding, the publication is an ode to the tactile beauty of these old torn black and white photographs as well as the colourful character behind them.

22.5x16cm / 48p. | Digital printing on Fedrigoni Sirio Black 210g paper | Concertina binding + hard-cover | 100% linen cover + silkscreen & debossing 

Text by Mahmoud Merjan | Text editing by Rachel Dedman  | Design by Karma Tohmé | Printing by Anis Press | Hand-binding by Khalil & Antoinette Soueidy