#yumna al-arashi

[meirimerens]

Yumna Al-Arashi, Axis of Evil (Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq), 2020

in Leica Fotografie International (LFI) magazine:

"This photograph was made for my first European solo show in Berlin, in the gallery Anahita Contemporary. It's a self-portrait alongside Anahita Sadighi, Moshtari Hilal and Susu AbdulMajid. We are respectively from Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq. Despite our different roots I noticed that we all share a similar background, having grown up in Western nations that often vilify the places our families are from. I also noticed the strong profiles of each of our faces. So I decided to create this portrait with the title Axis of Evil – a play on the term so frequently used to describe our home countries when we were growing up. It also embraces the beauty of our distinctive noses, which are often treated as ugly, something to be changed. I wanted to embrace these qualities of ours in this image, creating something powerful, defiant."

[if-you-are-tired-clap-your-hands]

On making a living as an artist

In a world where art and other creative pursuits should be an inspiring, honest and a direct reflection of our society, it is truly disheartening to realize that most mainstream artists come from some place of privilege. Whether it be racial, financial, social, or geographic, artists succeed not just from their skill alone, but from having the privilege to make enough sacrifices to pursue art as a full-time job. Even when you do find the right representation, it may feel as though you must sacrifice your independence and your voice as a trade for financial security. This can make you feel like you're alone, or just another piece in a system designed to exploit you for capitalistic gain. Now, now, sweet artist. I know you may feel quite depressed after reading all this. It's hard not to. Part of these frustrations are why I'm here writing this in the first place : because I believe that these systems must change and our approaches to financial stability as artists must be more transparent. I believe positive change comes from the transparency to know what it is that needs to change. For too long, our culture has resisted a more public conversation about personal finances. In many ways, this has enabled us to become a society that's content to embrace the outdated trope of the starving artist. Let's change that.

« How do I make a living as an artist ? », answered by visual artist Yumna Al-Arashi, in the Zine On making a living as an artist by The Creative Independent. You can read it for free on their website !

[las-microfisuras]

52

Hoy no he hecho nada.

Pero muchas cosas se hicieron en mí.

Pájaros que no existen

encontraron su nido.

Sombras que tal vez existan

hallaron sus cuerpos.

Palabras que existen

recobraron su silencio.

No hacer nada

salva a veces el equilibrio del mundo,

al lograr que también algo pese

en el platillo vacío de la balanza.

- Roberto Juarroz, Decimotercera Poesía Vertical 1992

- Yumna Al-Arashi, Merlot Sounds for Obey City

[cine-poeme]

“The 99 Names of God” 2018

[ancestorsalive]

"There is no old age. There is, as there always was, just you."

~ Carol Matthau, writer

Photo: Great Grandmother Aisha, born in Aden, Yemin facial tattoos - photo by Yumna Al-Arashi

[sheltiechicago]

Untitled

Northern Yemen, 2013. From Yumna Al-Arashi’s ongoing documentary work in the Middle East

Photograph: Yumna Al-Arashi

Moon: celebrating diversity and equality in photography – in pictures

Makers’ Yard and the nonprofit Women Photograph are presenting provocative images by female and non-binary artists at the Photo Frome festival in Somerset. 

[strathshepard]

Yumna Al-Arashi: Axis of Evil (Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq), 2020

[athousandlotus]

'Rituals: The 99 Names of God' by Yumna Al-Arashi

[lavernwrnx]

"Axis of Evil" (Yemen, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq) by Yumna Al-Arashi, 2020

[anyab]

[ID in alt]

Yumna Al-Arashi on Yemen’s Language of Love [link]

Exploring the regional and Yemeni heritage of masculine softness, now at risk of being lost on a generation.

I grew up with images of Yemeni men hand-holding, nose-kissing and, specifically where my family are from in Northern Yemen, the respectful kissing of your parents and grandparents on the knees. In my mind’s eye, this always instilled a softness toward Yemeni men. But I feel that exposure to Western traditions, Hollywood, and prejudice means that these are facets of life slowly being lost within the region.

Yemen’s language of love is communicated with the body. The language of love is spoken with the lips, weaving the Arabic language into a poetry which shakes the soul to its core. In Yemen, the language of love is a head caress on your grandmother’s lap, a dizzying repetition of oudh-traced kisses on every angle of your face. The language of love is your right toes pointed out from under your (dere’), directing the vibration of your curves, low hips wrapped tightly in fabric to accentuate your rhythmic dance. The language of love is your aunts’ tongues beating the sides of their mouths, clapping their henna-covered hands, crying out in high-pitched unison. Yemen’s language of love is not subtle. [...]

[black-is-no-colour]

Harper's Bazaar Arabia December 2021 Cover, photographed by Yumna Al-Arashi and styled by Anna Castan

[knittinganddrinkingtea]

Cameron Russell by Yumna Al-Arashi for Elle France  February 21st, 2020

[saadiaaf]

The 99 Names of God (Yumna Al-Arashi, 2018)

[athingcalledbliss]

Cameron Russell by Yumna Al-Arashi for Elle France February 2020

[cats-of-cairo]

Yumna Al-Arashi

Yumna Al-Arashi is a documentary photographer focused on women and social issues. It is briefly explained in the video below where she speaks about what’s behind her artworks. 

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Here are some of her projects. Check her page for more.

Shedding Skin: 

I’ve made an effort to create a body of work that truly represents the Muslim woman outside of being oppressed as I go along in time. There’s a huge importance for me to take each story that I do and create a larger story of understanding the Muslim woman. I want people to normalise this – they take up just as much space as anybody else and It’s really important to show that, and I’m really excited to be doing that with ASOS.

Photos and video: Shedding Skin page

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Rituals: The 99 Names of God:

The 99 Names of God embraces the rhythmic rituals that have run alongside Islamic tradition throughout the centuries in this surreal and poetic short film. Piecing together old and new, Arab-American filmmaker Yumna Al-Arashi aims to create dream-like imagery which breathes fresh air to a subject hardly seen in positive light. The importance of geometry, nature, spiritual connectivity, style, meditation, and feminine power in Islamic tradition is something modern media has failed to depict - Al-Arashi’s goal was to revive these themes in a truly beautiful manner. Islam’s underlying inherent meditative, universal and spiritual value has been washed over by negative media representation and male-dominated dogmatic imposition. It is time we see new imagery dedicated to truly understanding a religion filled with mysticism and beauty, practiced by over 1.8 billion people around the world.

Video: Rituals: The 99 Names of God page

https://vimeo.com/269851042

Northern Yemen:

In her series “Northern Yemen,” Al-Arashi captures the majesty of the Yemeni landscape as well as the women who inhabit it. Coverings resemble a superhero’s uniform, shielding and empowering its wearer in its night-colored drapery. Through the images, Al-Arashi hopes to shift the conversation around women’s rights in the Middle East away from its usual trappings, and in doing so, help stop the worldwide habit of policing women’s clothing and bodies. - Priscilla Frank, Huffington Post, 2016 

Photos: Northern Yemen page

[ancestorsalive]

Remember... 😉😊✨

"There is no old age. There is, as there always was,

just you."

~ Carol Matthau, writer

Great Grandmother Aisha, born in Aden, Yemin facial tattoos - photo by Yumna Al-Arashi