In Flanders Fields Museum opens unique exhibition on the First World War in the Middle East and thus transcends the borders of the Western Front
 
Besides in Europe, war also broke out in the Middle East in 1914. This region was largely dominated by the Ottoman Empire, which sided with Germany and therefore belonged to the losing side in 1918. The Ottoman Empire fell apart and the borders were redrawn according to the interests of Western powers. The discontent over this drove various local communities into conflicts, some of which continue to smoulder and flare up today.



Pieter Trogh, curator of the exhibition: "The Israeli-Palestinian question, the problems between Turkey and Armenia, or the fate of the Kurds: anyone who wants to better understand the current sensitivities and power relations in the Middle East will return in this exhibition to their wartime origins.”

What does the exhibition have in store for visitors?

The presentation of iconic objects is combined with atmospheric images, films, personal stories and compelling testimonies. What makes this exhibition so special is that it does not involve any written text. With a personal audio guide, visitors can listen to all the stories. The hostess of the audio guide is Layla El-Dekmak. She presented the programme Dubbelbloed (Double Blood) on Radio 1 and has a Belgian mother and Lebanese-Belgian father who lives in Beirut.

At the beginning of June, another international publication will be issued that will further explore the various themes. In September, an international conference will take place in Ypres and an educational programme will be developed.
 
Dimitry Soenen, Alderman and Chairman AGB Museums Ypres: "With this theme, the museum transcends the geographical boundaries of the First World War on the Western Front. For it is explicitly the task of the In Flanders Fields Museum to draw attention to the impact of the First World War and its aftermath. And that aftermath is today still most tangible in the Middle East. In a Coda to the exhibition, the question of the contemporary impact of the First World War on the Middle East is literally put to a group of experts and contemporary witnesses.”

More info: www.inflandersfields.be