The intriguing photographs by Stijns and Alhaag show how the Somalilanders are creating their own image, inspired by oriental, East African and Mediterranean culture. Geometric images of modernist buildings, painted entrance gates and colourful petrol stations are accompanied by tie dye fabric hung out to dry, popular logos such as Gucci and WhatsApp, dollar signs and henna. They are all unique images offering a glimpse into this extraordinary country. Ultimately, however, it is the stylish Somalilanders themselves, portrayed in their self-elected poses, who force us to reconsider the stereotypical image we have of them.
During their first encounter in 2013, Nadine Stijns and Amal Alhaag discovered a shared love of fashion, music, youth and pop culture, and found out they were both working on projects concerning Diaspora communities. In 2014, Alhaag visited Somaliland for the first time and shared her findings with Stijns. The stories and different textiles she took with her, would finally serve as the kick-off for a project to research and capture the identity, individuality and representation of the Somalilanders. In 'The Anarchist Citizenship’, the duo continually questions the relationship between the makers, the people portrayed and the spectator. With the help of photography, they show the creativity and own reality of the Somalilanders.
In 1991, internal conflicts resulting from the Somali Civil War led to the establishment of the self-declared, independent state Somaliland, a territory in the northwest of the East African country of Somalia, that now operates as an independent state with 4 million inhabitants. From a global perspective, Somalia and its citizens are constantly subject to being stereotyped, a process that is reinforced by negative media interpretations. This project questions that negative image by offering the Somalilanders a podium for claiming ownership of the way in which Somaliland identity is represented.
The exhibition ‘The Anarchist Citizenship. Ode to Youthful Daredevils’ will be shown during Art Rotterdam, from Saturday 9 February. In that same week the exhibition ‘Trouble in Paradise. Collection Rattan Chadha’ will also be opened.
8 June 2019 15:00 -
8 June 2019 16:00
Parallel aan de fototentoonstelling 'The Anarchist Citizenship. Ode to Youthful Daredevils', organiseren kunstenaar Nadine Stijns en curator Amal Alhaal in samenwerking met Concrete Blossom een speciale radioshow.
