Light from the Middle East

EXHIBITION: LIGHT FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

I am series in-situ, we need to talk, Jeddah, 2012

http://edgeofarabia.com/artists/manal-al-dowayan

"Each photograph I take is like part of my soul, and I'd like that to out live me."

               (Dowayan, M, A 2008).

Light from the Middle East was one of the exhibition recommended by Julie as a must see.  I decided to visit and see for myself on Sunday 10^th of February.  This exhibition contains work from artist across the Middle East from Africa to Asia who live within the regions.  The exhibition contains a variety of different Photographic techniques, such as Manipulation, Staging and Documentary.

The exhibition is divided into three sections Recording, Reframing and Resisting

The exhibition was interesting and some images stood out to me more than others especially in the Recording section.  The image titled Manal Al-Dowayan, ‘I am an Educator’.  This image was very powerful, as I was immediately drawn to the deep, dark eyes and the Arabic text displayed like a label in front of the subject.  As a black and white image it works well., it captivating.  It is from the series 'I am' 2005-2007

             

In the section Reframing I was once again drawn to the series of portraits in black and white titled Shadi Ghadiran, from the series ‘Qajar’.  I love the way the sitter poses with different items from western culture, but in the same picture making reference to ancient, cultural traditions and how women in Iran deal with it.

                 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-light-from-the-middle-east-new-photography/about-the-exhibition/

The last section Resisting was unpleasant visually, comical and a surreal overload for me.  This section had the least photographs.

Overall visually the exhibition images had the shock factor, they are controversial, bold, bright, distorted and in your face.  The Artists bravely show the forbidden in their world compared to the western world.  The low intense lighting added to the ambiance of the room space.

I managed to take pictures of the images that moved me, until I received a tap on my shoulder by a guard, pointing out politely “NO PHOTOGRAPHS ALLOWED” due to the copyright of the artist. 

Light from the Middle East did not disappoint.


References

Cummings, L., 2012 Light from the Middle East: New Photography - review. [Online]. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2012/dec/09/light-from-middle-east-photography-review (Accessed 20/02/13)

Victoria & Albert Museum (2012-2013) Light from the Middle east New Photography. [Online].  Available at:http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/exhibition-light-from-the-middle-east-new-photography/about-the-exhibition/ (Accessed 20/02/13)

Popham, P., (2012) 'IoS photography review: Light from the Middle East, Victoria & Albert Museum, London' The Independent, 2 December [Online]. Available at:http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/reviews/ios-photography-review-light-from-the-middle-east-victoria--albert-museum-london-8373704.html (Accessed 21/02/13)

Simon, J., (02/02/13) 'Light from the Middle East' Simon J. Blog 2nd february.  Available at: http://simonjenkins.com/blog/list/category/pictures/ ( Accessed 21/02/13)


http://mylens1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/light-from-middle-east.html

Ernest Cole

ERNEST COLE PHOTOGRAPHER (1940-1990)

"Handcuffed Men"                          

 Black South Africans upon their arrest for being in  a white area illegally.

Book cover image for In the House of Bondage by Ernest Cole: A must read, however this copy has not yet been released, you have to pe-order.

http://iconolo.gy/sites/default/files/HouseBondge0.jpg

"Child and Nanny"

" I love this child, though she'll grow up to treat me just like her mother does." A maid.

 (Cole and Flaherty, 1967)

http://iconolo.gy/sites/default/files/HouseBondage5.jpg

In the book: Cole writes ”Three –hundred years of white supremacy in South Africa has placed us in bondage, stripped us of our dignity, robbed us of our self esteem and surrounded us with hate” South African History online(2000)

"Mine Recruition"

Ernest cole took this picture of gold-mine recruits, who had been lined up for a group examination, after sneaking his camera into the mine inside his lunch bag.

http://iconolo.gy/sites/default/files/HouseBondage2.jpg

Ernest Cole was South Africas' first freelance black Photographer, a pioneer who captured stark and powerful images of the Apartheid system in South Africa between 1958-1966.  The images show what life was like for people of colour in the Apartheid years and what makes it powerful is the painful reality of everyday life shown in the images on their faces. The images show prejudice, humiliation, racism and segregation based on colour.  

Whilst flicking through the pages of Photoworks magazine in the library, I came across an article titled Ernest Cole; House of Bondage by Ian Jeffery.  I read the first paragraph and was transfixed, I had to finish as my feet were rooted to the spot.  When I finished reading the article three words came to mind Deep, Dark and Destructive, it moved me, especially the images. I connected with his pain instantly being a black woman of Caribbean origin. 

Ernest Cole was born on the 21^st of March 1940 as Ernest Levi Tsoloane Kole, in Eerterust, Pretoria,  he reclassified himself as “coloured” rather than “black” and went from Kole to Cole in order to move around freely without a work permit.  This was essential when he began his photographic journey.  He published a book titled House of Bondage in 1967 it was banned and he was exiled to the USA.  The book exposed and shamed the Apartheid system.

This article was informative it dealt with the history and the everyday issues people faced during and the Apartheid years.  It presents two sides of Apartheid and allows you the viewer to come to your own conclusion.

A modern day form of Apartheid alive and active in the year 2013 you the viewer decide.

References

Berman, N., Griffiths, S., Klink, I. and Lapid, Y. (2011) 'Ernest Cole : House of Bondage', Photoworks. (Issue 16 Spring/Summer) pp 34-35.

Cole, Ernest and Flaherty, T. (1967) House of  Bondage. South Africa. (Accessed 10/02/13)

O'Hagan. S (2011) 'Ernest Cole: Photographer-review' The Guardian, 23 January [online]. Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/23/ernest-cole-photographer-apartheid-review (Accessed 10/02/13)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-4rCcE9xwU (Accessed 11/2/13)

http://mylens1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/ernest-cole.html