Men pose inside of an underground “cave house” in the oasis town of Ghadames, Libya, in 1994. (Photographer: Samer Mohdad)
Homes like these, built in the old Saharan town of Ghadames as early as two millennia ago, reflect human ingenuity and adaptability. This traditional architectural style protected inhabitants from the harsh desert environment. These structures are preserved and remain lived in and in use today.
Lebanese photographer Samer Mohdad has for decades documented contemporary life and culture in the Arab world to challenge global but more specifically Western misconceptions of the region, to preserve history-making in real time, and more importantly to foster understanding and inspire solutions to the region’s problems.