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Discover the inspiration behind astriking new photography exhibition Page 18

The sumofourpastDiscover the inspiration behind astriking new photography exhibition

The sumofourpast

FRIDAY 11TH APRIL 200818 7DAYS Metrolifeweekendweekendweekendweekend

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Dubai is the very definitionof what it means to live ina modern world where

nationality, ethnicity and politicsare trumped by a consumeristcapitalist culture that thrives on all things bigger, better and newer. History, it can seem, has noplace in the here and now. For Dubai-based Lebanesephotographer Nadine Kansohowever, the past is the verything that informs who we aretoday. And this is the key pointthat her latest photographyexhibition, ‘Rewind, Ya Zaman’(‘zaman’ is Arabic for ‘time’)attempts to make. “I wanted to create a visualrepresentation that included apart of Arab history that we, asArabs, should be proud of andmay have forgotten, whileincorporating the consumeristsociety we live in, withoutdenying one or the other,” shetells 7DAYS. The result is 20 multi-layeredphoto-assemblages using tenindividual backdrops, wovenfrom newspaper clippings,photo-portraits and mementosfrom times past. Each backdrop tells the storyof noted musicians, politicians,writers and revolutionaries fromacross the Arab world.Icons of the Arab nationalistmovement of the 40’s, 50’s and60’s, including personalitiessuch as the songstress UmmKalthoum, Nobel Laureate writerNaguib Mahfouz and significantpolitical leaders Gamal AbdelNasser and George Habashserve as the reminder of thepast Kanso is trying tohighlight. “These are individuals who hada massive effect on the wayArabs identified themselves.The backdrops I createdemphasise certain dates,slogans and moments in historythat shaped who we are today.

“The sad thing is that manypeople today choose to shyaway from that collective pastor have a blasé reaction to it,”Kanso says. Against these backdrops,Kanso picked ten ‘modern day’Arabs to pose flanked by anarray of over-sized luxurygoods ranging from ‘It’ items(shoes, bags and mobilephones) to electronic gadgetsand even cosmetics. “The contrast of our culturallegacy and contemporary Arabsociety preoccupied byconsumerism and spectacle issomething that I’ve alwaysbeen fascinated with. Whatmakes us modern? Is it simplyabout the brands we wear andhow we look like? Or is it timethat we dig deeper - into thepast - to resume theconstruction of our Arabidentity?” Kanso asks.

Kanso’s latest exhibition is acontinuation of her earlier work,a kind of sequel that has takenon a more serious tone. Herprevious exhibition, ‘Who I am’,explored the issue of Arabidentity in relation to itsportrayal in the global media.“I focused on the Arabiclanguage and the way it tiesArabs together byphotographing individuals fromaround Dubai who showed noshame in their shared culturalheritage. I guess you can say it was afunky, colourful and lightintroduction to what this latestexhibition is,” she says.“With ‘Rewind, Ya Zaman’, I

wanted to scratch beyond thesurface of language and take it to a more ideological, if notpolitical level. “Some of the historical figures I chose to use may appearcontroversial in light of thecurrent fragmented state of theArab world, but there has to besome point where we start adiscussion of what we standfor today, controversial or not,”Kanso adds. That’s where the road signs -from ‘Stop’ to ‘UnderConstruction’ to ‘Bump Ahead’ -come into the picture - literally.In addition to the tenindividuals photographed, aparallel series shows thehistorical backgrounds withdifferent road signs placed infront of them.“These universal signs that areso familiar to everyone are alsofitting to the state of Arabidentity as I see it,” sheexplains. “In order for us tomove forward into the futurewe have to look at the signssurrounding us. The signs maysay ‘No Left Turn’ and ‘NoRight Turn’ but that doesn’tmean we stay rooted in thesame spot. In the same way,there will always be ‘BumpsAhead’ and at too manyjunctures, we’ll find a ‘Stop’sign but they should not beinterpreted as a reason tobecome paralysed or stopmoving,” says Kanso. As for the juncture she findsherself in, the photos tell a verypersonal story, which shehopes, will resonate with theviewer - no matter where theycome from. “As a modern Arab woman, Iidentify with all the elements inthe photographs. “From the historical figuresrepresented to the desire forluxury goods to the call forconstructing identity - theseare all things that I use toexplore what lies ahead. “As for the individuals that Iphotographed, they are allpeople who, in one or another,connected with the project andwere interested in beinginvolved in it. And thatpersonal connection adds afurther layer of authenticity tothe work that should make iteven more accessible.”

‘Rewind, Ya Zaman’ opens at B21 Gallery on April 15and will run until May 8. For more information visitwww.b21gallery.com

Thought-provoking photography exhibit inspires us to embracethe past and its importance in shaping what we become

Going backfor thefuture

EN MASSE: Detail shot from ‘Slow Motion’

THE BACKDROPSEMPHASISECERTAIN... MOMENTSIN HISTORY THATSHAPED WHO WEARE TODAY