From Her Eyes, من عيونها
Fatima AlJaber
Fearing scandals, speaking in metaphors, and planning meticulously … the list continues. What are the extremes that the Arab woman must go to when under surveillance? To what extent does she sacrifice her sanity to maintain discretion when all eyes are on her? In Arabic, metaphors are often utilized to express love, one saying being "Mn 3yooni," with my own eyes, implying someone is willing to give away their eyes to show affection.
This is a story from her eyes, but who is she? من عيونها, From Her Eyes is a capsule of stories told by Arab women created by one. The project explores the world of surrealism and exaggeration as a satirical commentary on the consequences of censorship on Arab women. Each photoshoot portrays what an Arab woman becomes or inherently is within their society while exposing the power dynamics that govern the personal and public spaces that Arab women inhabit.
The book sheds light on the censorship of self-expression, love, and freedom that Arab women face, often ignored or trivialized in Arab societies. From Her Eyes offers an abstract representation of the struggles faced by Arab women, deviating from the outdated portrayal often seen in mainstream media.
The women portrayed are based on the actions of real women in the region, parts of them that are inherently engraved in their way of life and existence. So who is she? She is a part of every woman you've met in the most extreme and minimal ways.