Farah Al Qasimi

It's Not Easy Being Seen 2

Farah Al Qasimi’s approach to photography deviates from the norms and conventions of traditional figurative and portrait photography. It’s Not Easy Being Seen 2 is from a series of photographs depicting women who are otherwise unnoticed by the public. In this work, her subject is obscured by a bright, green fabric (also referred to as a morph suit) that uses the concept of green screen technology to conceal identity. The green screen allows the viewer to project their own perceptions of identity onto the subject, effectively rendering them invisible. Al Qasimi also interrupts the viewer’s search for identity by masking characteristic traits of her subject, such as eyes, face, and body. The artist toys with the idea that the women in her work want to be seen, and known, but this is impossible when covered in a fabric that makes them imperceivable. 

The social concept of ‘being seen’ is a Western concept still finding its footing in Arab culture. The artist explains that the culture of the UAE, where personal photography still  hasn’t completely saturated social trends and customs, has a distinct relationship to visibility. While this is changing with the popularity of smartphones and Instagram, Al Qasimi maintains that it’s still generally considered inappropriate to take people’s photos without their permission in the Gulf Arab states Many people would prefer to remain anonymous, even when they have consented to take their picture. The artist notes that even as young people in the UAE participate in the rising popularity of social media, they are still keen to preserve their anonymity, often by obscuring their faces in some form. With respect to the cultural traditions and the desire for personal anonymity in the Gulf Arab states, Al Qasimi’s photographs critically consider how it is possible to produce an accurate and authentic portrait of someone, while still concealing their physical identity.