“هیچ دوستێک جگە لە چیاکان” — No Friends But the Mountains by photographer Christopher Bull is an ancient Kurdish proverb that gives its name to this photographic series. The project encapsulates a destiny of solitude and resistance. A silent cry that tells the story of a stateless people, divided among the harsh borders of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. There are over 30 million Kurds in the world, one of the largest ethnic groups without a recognized state, forced to live on the margins of official history, between political betrayals, wars, and unfulfilled promises.

Christopher Bull, artist and documentarian, has chosen to tell the hidden lives in the mountains with empathy and respect—those rugged, harsh landscapes that for the Kurds have been refuge, identity, and memory. He is not a photographer who simply observes from afar. For him, the subject is always the center of the image—a story to be listened to before it is told. With an open and attentive approach, Bull connects with the people he photographs, capturing those moments of truth and unconstructed emotion that make each shot authentic and powerful. His work is an act of dignity towards those who, in every life choice, appear fragile but strong, exposed yet human.

The Kurdish proverb that gives the series its title is not just a lament, but a testimony of resistance. Without reliable friends or constant allies, the Kurdish people have turned to the mountains as both a refuge and a symbol of independence. These same mountains are hard, rugged, and yet welcoming; they mirror the character of a people who have learned to rely only on themselves.

They offer protection against invading armies and hostile regimes, but above all they provide a higher perspective—a chance to view the world differently, contemplating both beauty and betrayal.

Through Bull’s lens, the landscape becomes emotion. The rocks and ridges stand as silent witnesses to a story written with difficulty. No Friends But the Mountains is a visual journey through the physical and emotional territories of a people, exploring the deep and indissoluble bond between people and the land that sustains them.

In a world where identities are lost and borders shift, these images remind us of the strength of those who resist with dignity, always looking forward from that steep mountain path—the only true “friend” in a destiny marked by isolation and courage.

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