Gilman Contemporary presents THE ECHO OF OUR VOICES, acclaimed photographer Nick Brandt’s poignant visual narrative showing the impact of water scarcity on a group of Syrian refugees, mostly families, in southern Jordan. Brandt’s portrayal is both respectful and tender, as he captures the resilience of the human spirit and the stabilizing effects of human connection in the face of adversity.

Jordan is considered the second most water-scarce country in the world. The Syrian refugees depicted in these photographs were forced to flee Syria due to war. Now in Jordan they are forced to relocate multiple times a year in constant search of adequate rainfall for growing crops. Families are perched on stacks of boxes that aim skyward, implying a sense of strength and defiance. They also serve as pedestals for the individuals who typically go unseen and unnoticed. No longer able to avert our gaze, we are invited to look into the eyes of these courageous individuals and hear the soft echo of their voices.