Family Portraits
Photo series, Cairo, Berlin, Istanbul and Amsterdam, 2003-2008
Family members, within the privacy of their own homes, have chosen to gather in their living rooms and present themselves to the outside world.
Preconceived notions of self-image reinforce an idealized vision of social identity. This creates a blend of what is commonly “known” and what is uniquely individual. These elements offer insights into the residents and their lives, serving as markers of their social and cultural backgrounds. The ways in which these spaces are arranged, and how people assemble and present themselves, reflect the tastes and habits of specific social classes, representing the image they aspire to project.
This series explores domestic and social structures, as well as the visual characteristics of different social groups.
Related exhibitions:
- 2010 “Noord,” Mediamatic, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- 2009 “Under Construction,” Hayaka Arti, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 2008 “Sowar Min El Salon,” Le CFCC, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt (solo).
- 2007 “Cartography,” a duo exhibition with Tarek Hefny, Contemporary Image Collective (CIC), Cairo, Egypt.
- 2007 “Malash-Kairo,” Meinblau Kunst & Atelierhaus, Berlin, Germany.
- 2007 “A Face in Cairo,” Falaki Gallery, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.
Related publication:
- 2007 “Sowar Min El Salon,” by Aleya Hamza, Contemporary Image Collective (CIC), Cairo, Egypt.