Dreamy Day

Photo series, Cairo, 2004-2008

The preconceived ideas of what the self-image should be reinforce an idealized notion of social identity. In many societies, this dynamic is extremely expressed in wedding events, for example, in Cairo. It is important for the bride, groom, and their families to put in effort to create a representative, dreamy day.

This series focused on the representations of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The overall scenery describes the wedding atmosphere, which varies according to social class or religion. The close-up images of this ceremony highlight the ritualized actions and gestures, as well as the appearance of the bride and groom.

The effort to capture and keep this moment is obvious through the intensive presence of photo and video coverage. The vehicle for image creation and recording every tiny detail often overwhelms the unique “sacred” moment. The record of the ceremony often becomes more important than the event itself.