Discover Afghanistan through the lens of Larry Towell
Two decades ago, photographer Larry Towell became the first Canadian member of Magnum Photos, the world’s most prestigious photography agency. A quick glance at his work reveals why: in hundreds of award-winning exhibitions worldwide, the rural Ontarian has tirelessly documented those left dispossessed in the wake of conflict. Shooting almost exclusively on film, he has captured everything from Vietnam War veterans and Alaskan oil spills to Israeli-Palestinian tensions and Independence Square revolutionaries in Kiev. From 2008 to 2011, he trained his lens on Afghanistan, the setting and namesake of his latest book. The 192-page tome—and its accompanying exhibition, which runs until November 22 at the Stephen Bulger Gallery—depicts people and places that, for 30 years, have grappled with war. “It’s mostly experiential,” Towell told J-Source earlier this year. “But it’s also analysis of this disastrous war, through my eyes, which I’m sure I’ll be drawn and quartered for.”
Sat. Oct. 25 until Nov. 22.; artist talk and book launch on Nov. 1. FREE. Stephen Bulger Gallery, 1026 Queen St. W., 416-504-0575, bulgergallery.com.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/discover-afghanistan-lens-larry-towell/&title=Discover Afghanistan through the lens of Larry Towell&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/larry-towell-best-bet-624x412.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_296097" align="alignnone" width="700"] Kunar Valley, Afghanistan, 2010. (Image: © Larry Towell/Magnum Photos)[/caption]
Two decades ago, photographer Larry Towell became the first Canadian member of Magnum Photos, the world’s most prestigious photography agency. A quick glance at his work reveals why: in hundreds of award-winning exhibitions worldwide, the rural Ontarian has tirelessly documented those left dispossessed in the wake of conflict. Shooting almost exclusively on film, he has captured everything from Vietnam War veterans and Alaskan oil spills to Israeli-Palestinian tensions and Independence Square revolutionaries in Kiev. From 2008 to 2011, he trained his lens on Afghanistan, the setting and namesake of his latest book. The 192-page tome—and its accompanying exhibition, which runs until November 22 at the Stephen Bulger Gallery—depicts people and places that, for 30 years, have grappled with war. “It’s mostly experiential,” Towell told J-Source earlier this year. “But it’s also analysis of this disastrous war, through my eyes, which I’m sure I’ll be drawn and quartered for.”
Sat. Oct. 25 until Nov. 22.; artist talk and book launch on Nov. 1. FREE. Stephen Bulger Gallery, 1026 Queen St. W., 416-504-0575, bulgergallery.com.){kind=link}