Anton’s Hand is made of Guilt. No Muscle or Bone. He has a Gung-ho Fingerand a Grief-stricken Thumb. by Edgar Martins
Edgar Martins’ new book is a research-based documentary project based on actual events, a lipogramme and an imaginary anthropological study in one. This multifaceted body of work, which includes original photographs, archival photography and images researched from private Islamist, Libyan and dark web forums is also accompanied by an album of probing soundscapes exploring the everyday experiences of a war correspondent as well as a book of drawings. Developed in North Africa from 2019-2023, this part-documentary, part-speculative project is based on a poignant and very personal story and experience: the death and disappearance of Edgar Martins’ close friend, photojournalist Anton Hammerl, during the 2011 Libyan war.
The book takes Hammerl’s story as a jumping off point to reflect on the decisive but paradoxical role that photography has played in conflict zones, photographic ethics, the portrayal of loss and trauma, whilst exploring the misinformation ecosystem surrounding war. This expansive and multifaceted publication is Martins’ most ambitious and personal book to date, the book was awarded the main prize at the SONY World Photography Awards 2023.
