Fonāna (فنانة) | Foam
Barcoding 1, 2008 © Maha Malluh
Written by Max Wiener
Photo Edited by Lyz Rider
In our Western civilization, Saudi Arabia appears to be a firmly conservative nation. Their policies, especially regarding liberties and freedoms for women, are drastically more rigid than our own, placing them far right on the spectrum in the current zeitgeist. On the walls of Amsterdam’s Foam Gallery, the strife of the political world is shelved to make way for beautiful art, and Fonāna proves to be just that. Featuring the works of eight contemporary female Saudi Arabian artists, the series proves to be a raw and candid look at some of the unique perspectives that society's woes can cloud. Their works, all different and approachable but all brimming with personality, are amplified when paired. As a whole, the series takes on more profound meanings than anything previously anticipated. The series opened on November 17th and has a scheduled closing date of February 14th.
Sway, 2009 © Jowhara AlSaud / Greenbox Museum
The eight artists featured in Fonāna are Sarah Abu Abdallah, Manal AlDowayan, Reem Al Faisal, Sara Alghesheyan, Jowhara AlSaud, Sara Bundakji, Sara Khoja, and Maha Malluh. Each artist represents the contemporary viewpoints of Saudi women, and through their work, we get a glimpse into a world acutely different from our own. Their works have a unique flair, bringing color into a black-and-white world. Given the social context of their work, all of the images throughout the series resonate with us on a penetratingly deep level, and each passing photograph reveals a new echelon of artistry.
The Salad Zone © Sarah Abu Abdallah / Greenbox Museum. Still image from video.
The Salad Zone © Sarah Abu Abdallah / Greenbox Museum. Still image from video.
Sarah Abu Abdallah’s The Salad Zone proves to be one of the most striking images from the series, playfully poking at the societal themes that she lives in. The image depicts a woman with a large pot covering her head and face, symbolic of the traditional garb that Saudi women must wear. All of her body is covered except for her hands, and the dimly lit room around her feels all the more liminal. Not only is this image incredibly haunting, but it's entirely symbolic of Sarah Abu Abdallah’s world. The woman is confined, her role already determined. As the viewer, we want to free her, but we must forget as we move on to the succeeding image. The screams from within the pot and the cries for freedom can almost be heard leaving the photograph; Sarah Abu Abdallah gives us the earphones to listen genuinely. It is one of the most poignant pieces of satire in contemporary culture.
Barbie Haram © Sara Alghesheyan / Greenbox Museum. Still image from video.
Fonāna proves that everyone has a voice that needs to be heard. The image artists in the series have such a singular viewpoint of their world, and all eight artists together make up the puzzle that tells the story of Saudi Arabian society. Thank God for them, the unorthodox narrative, for this is what mainstream media fails to cover in their semantical broadcasts. It is through art that we will truly learn and become better individuals.
