Image from exhibition, Sean Smith and Guardian News and Media Ltd The work of award winning British war photographer Sean Smith is now on display at the Imperial War Museum Manchester.The exhibition, Iraq: Photographs by Sean Smith marks the ten year anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq war. Since 2003 Smith has documented the war in Iraq for the Guardian Newspaper, capturing images of the devastating impact of the conflict on civilians.
The images on display show both the tragedy of war and the repressed humanity of the Iraqi people, focusing on the complex relationship between the western military forces and Iraqi civilians as they are forced to co-exist.
Previously unpublished photographs will be displayed alongside some of Smith’s more famous work, including his highly lauded 2006 press photo of the year. Up to 30 photographs will be displayed inside the museum, with several additional large scale images displayed outside.
Smith was sent to Iraq three months before the war began. He captured images of the Iraqi people enjoying social events and trying to live out their lives under the looming shadow of war. He stayed in Baghdad during the allied campaign in 2003, and returned several times over the following years.
Iraq: Photographs by Sean Smith, March 9 2013 – 2014, Imperial War Museum Manchester.