‘My art practice’s current core aim is to try and create a better understanding of Muslims globally. It is in the realm of art that we can truly reflect on the nuances of life.’ – Mahtab Hussain

This book presents photographs by Mahtab Hussain taken in Kashmir during research for his residency on Ikon Gallery’s Slow Boat in 2016.

The project, entitled The Auspicious Journey, examined the construction of the Mangla Dam in the 1960s and the mass displacement it caused. Many of these people settled in the West Midlands to work on the canals, linking back to the artist’s own heritage. This book also contains some documentation of the Mitti Ka Ghar exhibition at Ikon.

A British-born artist heavily influenced by multiculturalism and cultural diversity, Mahtab Hussain uses photography to investigate the dynamic relationship between identity, heritage and displacement.

He has been a recipient of numerous awards and commissions including Arts Council England, Multistory, and New Art Exchange. His work has been exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions, and reviewed in publications such as The Guardian, The Telegraph, and The Huffington Post.