LIGHT FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

On Friday evening I travelled up to London with Collage Magazine and spent a few enjoyable hours at the V&A Museum to view the Light from the Middle East exhibition. I have never visited a museum or gallery at night and it felt childishly pleasing to roam the near empty corridors after dark ( a bit like being in your school when everyone else has gone home!)

This photographic exhibition brings together new images from various countries in the region and addresses the cultural and political perceptions which tend to go hand in hand with their society. In the early 1980's I lived in Cairo for six months and the sights, sounds and way of life there are very close to my heart. Photography is a powerful medium used to record events as they take place but many of the artists have manipulated their images requiring the viewer to consider what is reality and what is staged.

Among my favourites were the series of work by Shadi Gadirian and are based on traditional portraits from the Qajar period of 1700-1900's. The subjects are all women modestly clothed each with a trophy of modern day society - a Pepsi can, electrical equipment, a mountain bike - and addresses the challenges faced by women in that society today. Interestingly our guide pointed out that the original Qajar subjects were often dressed more freely with bare legs or arms than those of today.

image courtesy of the V&A

I also liked Watchtowers, West Bank/Palestine by Taysir Batniji which were inspired by the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher. The photographs were taken by a local photographer and not the artist as the area is out of jurisdiction to Gaza born Palestestinians. The shots were taken quickly and presumably surreptitiously which I think add to their quality - the watchers are also being watched.

image courtesy of V&A

The second part of the evening was spent at a seminar hosted by Avril Horsford called Rising Talent Pecha Kucha and Panel. Five young women creatives showcased their current work and the audience was invited to question them and suggest ways they could take their work forward. The words Pecha Kucha come from Japan and embody the concept of an exchange of ideas. There was a variety of work - film, photography, poetry and design and all the women were articulate and talented. Sadly the event was limited to one hour but I think we all would have liked to have been able to continue for longer.

The exhibition finishes on the 7th April and I definitely recommend you go and take a look.