Thanks to the support of the Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal, the Zoom Photo Festival presents an extraordinary photographic exhibition “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî – Woman, Life, Freedom ” by Matteo Trevisan.
In Rojava, northeastern Syria, women are at the heart of a major social and ecological transformation, often rendered invisible by dominant narratives about the region. This photographic project documents a model based on women’s empowerment, community autonomy, and environmental regeneration, where the struggle for gender equality is inextricably linked to the protection of the territory. Since 2012, women have been actively involved in building a society based on cooperation, shared governance, and jineolojî, an approach that places women and the natural world at the center of political thought. Despite conflicts, blockades, and military threats, they are developing initiatives in reforestation, sustainable agriculture, collective resource management, and education. Through these images, the project reveals another face of Rojava: that of communities which, amidst crises, are building an alternative model where feminism, ecology, and social justice are inseparable.
From October 9th to novembre 1st 2026
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Exhibition presented free of charge at the 1912 Building of La Pulperie – 300 Dubuc Street, Chicoutimi
Matteo Trevisan is an Italian photographer whose work explores social and environmental issues through an anthropological approach to the land. Originally from the border region between Italy and Slovenia, he develops long-term projects, particularly in the Balkans. A recipient of several awards, he collaborates with organizations such as Greenpeace and UNESCO, and his photographs have been published in international media outlets including The New York Times, Politico, and The Guardian. In 2024, he published his first book of photographs, I Guardiani della montagna – We Are Still Dreaming.
For more information on the Zoom Photo Festival Saguenay: zoomphotofestival.ca