"Identity", By Iman Shaggag, 2007-2008, mixed media on photographs
How would you (your life) be affected, if you had been born in a different place and time?".
And how our features or looks and cultures affect our lives!?
Using a photograph that was taken by artist Ahmed Elmardi in April 2008, as he was adjusting his camera, the photo was over exposed and he wanted to delete it, which made it perfect for me, in terms of loss of details, more over the neutral pose allowed for broader possibilities to experiment and explore the idea to it's maximum at this point in time. I used etching ink, graphite powder, tempera and acrylics.
I was able to alter my features using the same photo, after printing it out multiple times, posing as Sudanese women from different parts of the country. With different hair styles, tribal facial marks and accessories. I could have easily been any of them. But my life definitely wouldn't be the same, because of bias and racism.
Iman Shaggag 2008
Philadelphia, PA, US