Every Dog Will Get His Day: A Portrait of Palestinian Resilience
Brendan Rains | West Bank, Palestine
Photographer: Brendan Rains
Exhibit Title: Every Dog Will Get His Day: A Portrait of Palestinian Resilience
Location: West Bank, Palestine
In the occupied West Bank, Palestinians face systemic and material conditions which often interfere with their ability to live normal lives. There is a common saying among those living in the West Bank; "Every dog will get his day." Uttered by those who are often frustrated by the conditions they experience, it reflects a profound capacity for patience in the face of oppression. It is a reliance an trust in a karmic outcome for one's oppressors. In my project, I follow Palestinians who regularly fall victim to settler violence and complete indifference by the military who is intended to protect them. It serves as a portrait of resilience, patience, and quiet, peaceful resistance in a people who have largely been overlooked since the Hamas attacks of October 7th shifted the global spotlight on the Israel-Hamas War in the Gaza Strip.
Thank you to Jeremy Loffredo, Andrey Khrzhanovskiy (Andrey X), Awdah Hathaleen, Basel Adra, Guy Hirschfeld, and many more who cannot be named for helping me find contacts, schedule interviews, and providing me with a safe place to rest each night. You made this project possible.
Brendan F. Rains is a documentary and fine art photographer based in New York City. His work focuses on themes like identity, economics, advertising, and urban life. Drawing from his Midwestern background, he often highlights feelings of solitude and individuality in everyday scenes. Rains takes an observational approach to street photography, capturing quiet, sometimes unusual moments that reflect the effects of consumer culture, urban development, and social disconnection. His zines Negative Externalities and Word on the Street explore these ideas in depth.
In addition to his fine art work, Rains covers international and political topics through documentary photography. He has photographed protests, global conflicts, and infrastructure issues in places like the occupied West Bank. His photojournalism has been featured in Photo Vogue, Reason Magazine, and through his own Substack newsletter, Rains Report. He has exhibited his work in both solo and group shows, including New Troubles at the Burren College of Art in Ireland and the DPI Senior Thesis Show at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His work has received recognition through awards such as the Thomas Drysdale Photography Award (2023) and a longlist placement for the Ian Parry Photography Grant (2024).
Rains continues to use photography to document everyday life and larger global issues, aiming to tell honest, grounded stories through his images.
email: brendan@brendanrains.com
instagram: @brendanrains
x: @rainsbrendan
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