Book Review: Under Every Yard of Sky
© Sebastian Meyer - Men march during Newroz, a festival celebrating the Kurdish New Year (2010)
By Daneal Rozman
One might imagine that Sebastian Meyer’s book Under Every Yard of Sky, depicting a decade of war in Kurdistan and Iraq, would be littered with images strictly depicting violence. On the contrast, Meyer provides his readers with heart wrenching personal stories tied into the narrative of an ethnic group fighting for its independence.
When expectations of a nation the media has portrayed as war-ridden were shattered by the economically booming capital of Iraqi Kurdistan known as Erbil, Meyer was forced to reconsider his preconceived notions.
© Sebastian Meyer - Local hunters, searching for prey (2015)
Meyer first began his documentation on assignment for the Kurdistan Memory Programme in 2008, attempting to assist in a multimedia project highlighting Kurdish history. Quickly, Meyer discovered the passion within the Kurds and befriended fellow photojournalist along the way. It was through micro-interactions that Meyer developed close relationships which gained him access to many Kurdish families’ personal life.
Utilizing dramatic depictions of landscapes, and the combination of human elements make Meyers’ images so relatable. For a moment, the viewer is allowed to forget where the subject is and appreciate the action (or lack thereof) captured. Even with the level of comfort Meyer provides through portraits, there is no shortage of jarring images coupled with horrific stories.
© Sebastian Meyer - A Kurdish tribal leader poses with his militia (2017)
The focus is put on Kamaran Najm, a photojournalist, close friend and business partner of Meyer who was captured by ISIS fighters during a small skirmish. For three years, Najm’s brothers, a small group of his friends and Meyer attempted to coordinate retrieval plans. Going back and forth with ISIS troops who threatened the search party with Najm’s life; following 18 months with no proof of life, the search party officially announced his disappearance. Meyer used the scarring incident and time spent searching for his best friend as inspiration to share his gripping stories and even dedicated the book to Najm.
© Sebastian Meyer - Kamaran Najm in Hawraman (2011)
During Najm’s absence, Meyer continued his documentation of the horrors and lives of those caught in the cross fire of war. From ISIS fighters and terrorist in custody, to the remains of buildings and human body parts blown off in suicide bombings, Meyer was sure to get close and capture it all. His collection of photos within the book not only convey individual messages and stories, but carry the weight on an entire ethnic group, fighting for peace and their own space to call home.
Even though Meyer was sent on assignment to capture survivors of Saddam Hussein’s Anfal campaign, he never could have expected the relationships and stories he would leave with. Following a 10 year stint of documentation, Meyer left Kurdistan with more than images of a war torn nation. Rather, he left with inspiration in his heart and the ability to showcase the stories and lives of those unable to do so themselves.
© Sebastian Meyer - Best friends, Meyer and Najm in Georgia (2012)
The poem by Kurdish poet Abdulla Pashew titled The Unknown Solider acts as the inspiration for the books title, and is used by Meyer as a stunning example of an introduction.
When a delegate visits a foreign country,
He brings a crown of flowers for the grave of the Unknown Solider.
If tomorrow, a delegate came to my country and asked me:
Where is the grave of the Unknown Solider?
I would say: Sir,
At the bank of every stream
Under the dome of every mosque
At the doorstep of every house
Every church
Every cave
Under the boulder of every mountain
Under the branches of every garden in this country
Over every inch of earth
Under every yard of sky,
Don’t be afraid, bow your head and there set down your crown of flowers.
