Light from the Middle East: New Photography.  

When I first saw the cover image of Light from the Middle East exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum, I was fascinated by the connection between art, political unrest and religion. On display are works by 13 photographers over the past 20 years divided into three sections: recording, reframing and resisting.  

Newsha Tavakolian, Tehran. From the series 'Mothers of Martyrs'

2006

Admiring the grieving women on the exhibition’s cover I wonder about the context around the grandiose frame. The photograph is also located in the first room and dealing with the notion of ‘how reliable is a camera ?’. It’s interesting to note how Newsha Tavakolian, the Iranian born artist juxtaposes the shabby location and the grieving women holding a photograph of a man.

The collection on display sums up that art in the Middle East is used to convey a message or give ‘a voice for people.’ As if it was forbidden to reveal your true emotions, your affection for the opposite sex, grieve or fight for freedom. And in reality it is, but is this how West sees East or how the East wants to be depicted? While I was wandering around I couldn’t help thinking how much freedom citizen in the Western countries have in comparison to people in the Middle East?

Recording:

As an abstract photograph the image by Saudi-Arabian artist Ahmed Mater can signify different representations, however it depicts the power of religion during the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. 

Ahmed Mater, Saudi Arabia.'Magnetism II'2012

Reframing:

Previously I had encountered Lebanese born artist Wally Raad’s fictional work The Atlas Group archive, a collective artwork created over a period between 1989-2004 with particular emphasis on the Lebanese wars. It focuses on car engines found after car bombings during the Lebanese wars from 1975 to 1998. 

In different albums his billboard type montage art juxtaposes dots of vivid colour splashes, the bombed buildings and old fashioned Chevy’s. The factual information about the cars, the bombs, statistics about how many civilians were killed – revels the seriousness of the situation that could also embody a political message. 

Wallid Raad is one of my favourite contemporary artists who stands out with a unique style in photomontage. Here’s a link to Raad’s exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in 2012 I reviewed. 

Walid Raad 'Notebook Volume 38: Already Been in a Lake of Fire (Plates 63–64)'
2003

Shadi Ghadirian, Iran. 

From the series'Qajar' 1998

Iranian artist Shadi Ghadirian, portrays Middle Eastern women with western artifacts series ‘Qajar’. The religious context in this image juxtaposes the notion of Western lifestyle and Eastern traditions. I love the blend of sepia tones and the sitter’s confrontation with the viewers.

Resisting:

Saudi Arabian artist Jowhara AlSaud ‘Airmail' stands out with an image of a intimate gesture. The logo ‘airmail might indicate the ‘twarted attempts at communication.” An interesting take on religion and art.

Jowhara AlSaud, Saudi Arabia. 'Airmail', from the series 'Out of Line' 2008

Light from the Middle East has been one of my most interesting visits to the V&A. A mesmerising and captivating exhibition that evokes thoughts even months later. Highly recommend it!

Photo source:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-light-from-the-middle-east-new-photography/about-the-exhibition/

http://www.theartsdesk.com/visual-arts/light-middle-east-new-photography-victoria-albert-museum