Nightbound Chronicles

On Saturday, 26 July at 12:30 p.m., we will immerse ourselves in the nightlife of the Algerian coastal town of Jijel.

Soufian Chemcham is a storyteller whose work is inspired by the street life of his hometown Jijel and the cultural pulse of hip-hop. His artistic journey began when he and his friends bought a camera to document their dance performances. That’s when his passion for photography was sparked.

As a self-taught photographer, Soufian developed his work into documentary projects that explore the relationship between people and their environment. His photography captures the intersection between hip-hop culture and Algerian society, reflecting how they influence and shape each other.

Soufian Chemcham began the project ‘Nightbound Chronicles’ in 2024, when he turned 29, initially as a series of street shots he took with his mobile phone. These images, taken in the silence of the night, evolved from random snapshots into a reflection on the tension between traditional values and individual self-determination.

When the city comes to rest at night, a quiet rebellion unfolds in the neighbourhood. Young men who otherwise live with their families seek solace in the company of their peers. Staying up late is not a choice, but a necessity if one wants to find moments of relaxation from everyday life.

Soufian Chemcham’s project aims to capture these silent struggles and moments of respite, to shed light on the complexity of living with parents among young people in the Arab world, and to examine whether this phenomenon is due to economic challenges or is deeply rooted in the cultural structure of these societies – or both.

Admission is free.