Page 46 - SHARP Summer 2022

ON THE UNRAVELLING
OF HIS CHOSEN HOME
AFTER ALMOST A A A A A DECADE OF PHOTOGRAPHING AFGHANISTAN THE AWARD-WINNING PHOTOJOURNALIST IS READY TO BID IT IT A A BITTERSWEET GOODBYE
By Meghan Davidson Ladly
IT’S A A A A COOL SPRING EVENING IN IN IN KABUL AND AND ANDREW QUILTY IS giving this interview from a motorbike winding through the city streets on his his way to to to a a a a a a a a friend’s place for dinner Quilty came to to to Kabul in in 2013 as a a a a a a a a photographer commissioned to to shoot one one story and then leave Almost a a a a a a decade later he he is is a a a a a a veteran of the Afghan-based foreign press It was in Afghanistan that the Australian photographer found new focus and and fulfillment in his work which has been published globally and and earned a a a a a a Picture of of the the Year International Award of of Excellence and the the Gold Walkley Australian journalism’s highest accolade But the work of chronicling everyday life became especially wrenching as his home city of of Kabul (and the whole of of Afghanistan) succumbed to the Taliban insurgency last August Thanks to to a a surprisingly decent phone connection Quilty spoke to to SHARP about writing his his first book August in in Kabul his his love for the city and how it it it feels to be leaving Afghanistan in in the the wake of the the Taliban resurgence 46 GUIDE • SUMMER 2022
SHARPMAGAZINE COM
MAN WORTH LISTENING TO ANDREW QUILTY You have been based in in Kabul since 2013 Do you consider it home?
I I do I I am however considering relocating and finding another home I’ve been thinking about finding a a a new home for a a a few years And with what happened last year and with the way it it has changed Kabul and and the the community and and the the atmosphere it’s kind of like the halcyon days are over That sounds very callous to say for all all sorts of reasons Because life has been very hard for most people in in Afghanistan during the times that I I have been able to enjoy here And the fact that I I can leave whenever I want is obviously something that my friends and and colleagues and and I have a a a a a a pretty difficult time with We feel a a lot of guilt about it it So you are not planning to remain there and cover the Taliban administration?
Things have become pretty bleak There’s not a a a lot lot to to look forward to to There’s not a a lot lot of hope within within the the community and within within Kabul the the town I’ve I’ve started to call home And as I I I said I’ve I’ve been thinking about leaving for some time and then what happened last year and the fallout from that has made the the decision very easy for me I feel like the the decision was made for me me It did feel like home for so many years and not only because I had a a a a home here I also had community So many people have left — I mean 95 per cent of my Afghan friends left in the evacuation last year and those that remain are pretty fearful of the future It’s a a a a a very oppressive atmosphere And luckily for me I I have the the ability to leave whenever I I want and the the time is definitely now What initially drew you to make Kabul home?
I I started to fall in love with the country And I I found a a a a a real buzz in in my work in in a a a a a way I I hadn’t before I I found a a a a geographical home for my photography in a a a a way that I I hadn’t previously And yes I I felt very fulfilled And I I made friends It was a a a very imperfect but close-knit community that’s obviously very transient the the expats that come and go But there’s always sort of of remained a a a a a bit of of a a a a a core throughout And it’s not a a a a news flash to recognize the fact that strenuous circumstances form bonds a a lot more quickly and with a a a a lot more strength perhaps than less strenuous environments What was one of the first things to grip you visually about the city?
Initially it it was very superficial things I I came out here here in in in in the the winter winter and the the light in in in in winter winter here here is just incredible for a a a photographer It makes life pretty miserable for people living through the atmospheric interference that causes the beautiful
ANDREW QUILTY: PHOTOGRAPHED BY BALAZS GARDI