Tsawwar… Annissa Durar
“I traveled to Sejnane in northern Tunisia to document the women who continue the region’s UNESCO recognized pottery tradition. I visited Sabiha, Lamia, Zohair, and Khadouja in their homes as they shaped each piece by hand using local clay and organic pigments. Their pots and figurines are fired in open flames outside, a method that has been used in Sejnane for generations. During our conversations, they spoke about learning the craft within their families and their hopes for its continuation, even as younger generations show less interest. In this photograph, Sabiha is shaping a small animal figure by hand, reflecting the way these pieces are traditionally made in Sejnane.”
Annissa Durar is a Libyan-American photographer whose work focuses on cultural rituals, craftsmanship, and everyday life in communities around the world. Working mostly with 35mm film, she is drawn to moments that reflect memory, identity, and a sense of place. Over the past several years, she has developed a body of work that documents traditional practices, local artisans, and the quiet details that define daily life across different regions. Her approach is guided by curiosity, respect, and a commitment to telling human stories with honesty and warmth.
Tsawwar is an ongoing visual series in Daftar which explores the stories behind a photograph, taken in the region or by an Arab photographer, written in their own words.
