Biography
Ferdows Faghir is an Afghan photographer currently based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
After he and his family fled Afghanistan during the war in the early 90s, he grew up in a small town in the Netherlands.
As a first generation immigrant, he is part of the minorities he captures. With the work he makes, he wants to give them a voice and shed a different light on the topic.
Faghir makes documentary work in which humans play the central role. His Afghan roots are his greatest source of inspiration. Through research into the history of the camera, he came across several techniques used in Afghanistan, such as the Kamra-e-Faoree, also known as the Afghan Box Camera.
His love for analog photography and his roots led him to build his own box camera, which he now uses to take portraits of the Afghan diaspora in the Netherlands. In a world that is becoming more and more digitalized, Faghir sees great importance in preserving his heritage and the craftsmanship that comes with it. Through his work, he intends to keep the craft alive and pass on the torch to the next generation of craftsmen.
Exhibitions
2025 “Spanning Delta II” - PAKD Gallery, Berlin (DE)
2025 “Tussenspoor CC” - Cultuur Concreet, Rotterdam (NL)
2024-2025 “Land van Chabot bewoners” - Chabot Museum, Rotterdam (NL)
2023 “Suprapuneri II” - ETAJ Artist-run Space, Bucharest (RO)
2022-2023 “Verbeelding” - Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam (NL)
2021-2022 “Season 9” - Thirdbase Artist Residency, Lisbon (PT)
2021 “InsideOUT” - SKVR, Rotterdam (NL)
2020-2021 “Of Wandering Concrete and a Displaced Camera” - Chrysalid Gallery, Rotterdam (NL)
Kamra-e-Faoree Performances
2025 Kwaku Festival - Nederlands Fotomuseum, Amsterdam (NL)
2025 Fotofestival Naarden (NL)
2025 Meet the Artist: Koos Breukel - FOAM, Amsterdam (NL)
2024 Chabot Museum - Rotterdam (NL)
2024 Het land van Chabot - Chabot Museum, Rotterdam (NL)
2024 Stichting Solh - Tiel (NL)
2024 Afghanistan Youth Organization - Den Haag (NL)
2024 Dialogue Vintage Photography - Amsterdam (NL)
2024 ArtAmsterdam-Spui - Amsterdam (NL)
2024 Zomeravond - Nederlands Fotomuseum, Rotterdam (NL)
2024 Unity in Diversity Art Market - Schiecentrale, Rotterdam (NL)
2023 Polycopies - Paris (FR)
2023 Unseen - Amsterdam (NL)
2023 Dialogue Vintage Photography - Amsterdam (NL)
2023 GRAW - Kampung 35, Rotterdam (NL)
2023 Roos Meijer Album Release - Den Haag (NL)
2023 Unity in Diversity Art Market - Citrusveiling, Rotterdam (NL)
2022 GRAW - Katshoek, Rotterdam (NL)
2022 De Magie van Polaroid - Schiedam (NL)
2021 Third Base Studio - Lisbon (PT)
2021 Unseen - Amsterdam (NL)
2020 Chrysalid Gallery - Rotterdam (NL)
2019 Stichting Keihan - Wereldmuseum, Leiden (NL)
2019 Stedelijk Museum - Schiedam (NL)
Publications and Media
2024 Iedereen Maakt Foto’s - Anne Bloemendaal Podcast (NL)
2024 Nieuw Nederlands Talent, Nummer 8 - Pf Magazine (NL)
2023 Portfolio - Focus Magazine (NL)
2022 Verbeelding - Nederlands Fotomuseum (NL)
2021 Box Camera Now - Lukas Birk (AT)
Residencies
2021 Jaro - Milíře (CZ)
2021 - 2022 Third Base Studio - Lisbon (PT)
Education
2022 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography - Willem de Kooning Academy, Rotterdam (NL)