“As an image-maker, creating impact in my work is a part of my practice. Sometimes I feel that If I make one image that evokes not only emotions but a conversation and a dialogue – that's a huge thing. Then it becomes a goal and a life mission.” 

What challenges you?

My real challenge is remaining inspired. In the light of the global pandemic and the current situation in Yemen, it is possible to lose hope that things matter, that no matter what you do, it is not going to make any difference. It becomes easy for you to doubt yourself. I do not think I have overcome it yet, it is still work in progress, but I know that I will not stop. 

How did you overcome the challenge?

When young Yemeni women photographers approach me as a role model, that creates a huge responsibility for me to work very hard to help change the status quo of Yemen’s art scene. I still have not figured out exactly how I will do that, but I am taking small steps to make small differences. I aim to support new voices and new women talents, and to help them rise.

I know the difficulties the women photographers face being behind the camera; I faced the same situation. It is certainly a life goal for me to support them and help women photographers be more accepted by society.

What is your hope for the future?

I want Yemen’s women to no longer be afraid to be themselves – to access more opportunities and to speak up without being told otherwise. I hope for them to rise, to shine, to create, to make, to realize their capabilities, and to be able to use them in whatever form they choose.

More about Thana 

Thana Faroq is a Yemeni documentary photographer, speaker and educator based in the Netherlands. Her work mirrors her life and provides a visual echo of her voice as she gracefully negotiates themes of memory, boundaries, and violence. Thana has a unique approach to working with her subjects in that she regularly returns to them to continue sharing their journey. Many of these migrant, stateless individuals were with Thana during her transitional period.

Thana’s work has been exhibited in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States and has been featured in media ranging from The New York Times Lens, National Public Radio (NPR), and World Press Photo to Aljazeera, BBC, and CNN Arabic.

She has spoken and lectured about her work at venues ranging from the Yemeni Youth Cultural Diaspora Forum (Doha, Qatar); the International Dialogue on Migration (Geneva, Switzerland); and, at The Power of Untold Stories featured at the World Forum Theater for the IB Global conference (The Hague, Netherlands).

Among her many honors, Thana was a recipient of the 2018 inaugural Open Society Foundation Fellowship Grant and Exhibition and the 2019 Arab Documentary Fund supported by the Prince Claus Fund and Magnum Foundation and Zenith magazine reporting grant. She was also selected in British journal of photography ‘Ones to Watch' 2020.

Thana received her Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Relations from Clark University and a Master of Arts in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from the University of Westminster, London. She is currently completing her Master of Arts in Photography and Society at The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague.