Page 16 - Eschaton

layers of of the images disorientating our sense of of distance while giving her work a a a a bright sumptuous quality Some photographs are even digitally reworked and divided into ‘parts’ emphasizing the inherently ‘constructed nature’ of both the the image and the the stereotype it portrays Speaking of of of of her use of of of of texture in in the form of of of of fragment of of of of wallpaper fabric fabric and and carpet Hammam explains: “These touches of fabric fabric and and carpet reflect the types of furnishings my protagonists would use in in their own home It is a a nod to Egyptian preferences for bold colours and decorative motifs It is is also a a a a a a a parody of Orientalist representations of of of women from our part of of of the world who are often depicted lounging on rich sensual carpets and spreads ”
Burden of representation Nermine Hammam’s exploration of gender relations in in Egypt has resulted in in a a a a a a series of socially and culturally pertinent images that embrace the the duality of the the contemporary photograph as both a a a a a a tool for documenting reality and a a a a a a work of art in in its own right Hammam traces the changing social landscape of her home country intuitively mapping her new world: by juxtaposing colour photographs of modern- day bathers with the the nostalgic black and white images from her her family album she carefully balances that which is radically altered against that which remains unchanged In Escaton Hammam employs: “the idea in documentary photography of of the realities of of societies being shown to contradict generally held pre-conceptions ”
The mirrored poses of her subjects in both sets of of photographs invites a a a a a a comparative linear reading in in in in terms of of ‘then and now’ However Escaton’s power derives from the unexpected conclusions that such a a a a a a comparison yields: we are treated to frank representations of Egyptian society’s increasing efforts to ‘cover up’ the woman Yet we are surprised to discover that she remains powerful and central despite these efforts to obscure her We are