Light from the Middle East: new photography
From the reportage of the Iranian revolution of 1979 to digital montages of the Egyptian revolution of 2011, a new show of photography at the V&A – supported by Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for art – captures the region in a new and powerful light. “The events of the past decade, from 9/11 to the so-called Arab Spring, have thrust the Middle East into the international spotlight as never before,” says the show’s curator Marta Weiss. “The same period has seen a dramatic increase in the production, exhibition, criticism and sales of contemporary Middle Eastern art, of which photography forms a significant part.” The exhibition continues at the V&A in London until 7th April 2013 before going on tour. vam.ac.uk
Saida in Green (2000) by Hassan Hajjaj. ‘The frames are as important to me as the picture,” says Hajjaj. “I love ‘Arabizing’ them in a cool way. Growing up in Morocco, recycling was something that came naturally, so I took that element and I played around with it.” © V&A
Airmail (2008), from the series Out of Line by Jowhara AlSaud. Saudi Arabian-based photographer AlSaud explores “the language of censorship and the malleability of photography” in her work. © V&A
Qajar (1988) by Shadi Ghadirian. One of a series of images, restaging studio portraits of women originally made in Iran during the Qajar period (1786-1925), offset by modern imported props. © V&A
Wonder Beirut #13, Modern Beirut, International Centre of Water-Skiing, from the series Wonder Beirut (1997-2006) by Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige: “These (pre civil war) postcards reappeared on the stands of stationery shops as if nothing had happened, although the buildings they represented had been defaced or destroyed by the bombing. It’s about exploring the way history is being written and searching for images and representations we can believe in.” © V&A
The Break, from the series Upekkha (2011) by Nermine Hammam. The image is a reaction to the protests of Tahrir Square in 2011. Hammam transports her soldiers to idyllic, tranquil settings – Alpine landscapes and Japanese cherry blossom orchards. © V&A