Posts Tagged ‘serviceberry’

….. and other seemingly unrelated things

Aga Khan park in spring, with people looking at pink blossoms on the weeping cherry trees, also an art exhibit of photos by Hassan Hajjaj, of Arab women boxers

These photos were taken at Aga Khan Park where there is a CONTACT Photography Festival exhibit of images by Hassan Hajjaj (b. 1961, Morocco).  The subject of these photos is Arab women boxers.  The exhibit is titled, “La Salle de Gym de Femmes Arabes”

close up of an Arab woman with hair and face covered, wearing Everlast boxing gloves and jacket, photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit
below: Front and back

 an Arab woman with hair and face covered, wearing Everlast boxing gloves and jacket, photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit, two panels, front view and back view of the woman

photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit, Aga Khan Park, Arab women boxers

I was disappointed when I realized that the photographer was male. Do we need men to tell women’s stories? Or, if these stories were told by a woman, how would they differ?

….especially with respect to this photo. Really? Yellow heart-shaped sunglasses?

photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit, Aga Khan Park, Arab women boxers

It may be culturally insensitive, but I see very little to like in this photo.  I don’t see strong women, I see women being erased because they have to hide behind so many layers and so many restrictions.  There is no empowerment here; there is no individuality.

photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit, Aga Khan Park, Arab women boxers
photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit, Aga Khan Park, Arab women boxers

Yes, those are cans of food in all the borders.  And yes, they are supposed to remind us of Andy Warhol’s use of Campbell soup cans.

photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit, Aga Khan Park, Arab women boxers, photo of a black ball, a red pair of boxing shoes, and a dark green pair of socks

photo by Hassan Hajjaj, CONTACT photography festival exhibit, Aga Khan Park, Arab women boxers, woman on a bike

below:  This is “ALIF”  by Acil Benamara.  It is part of “Inner Structures – Outer Rhythms” which is an exhibit showcasing contemporary Arabic and Persian graphic design and typography.  The rest of the exhibit is inside the museum.

below: A fox among the serviceberry trees.

small, life size sculpture of a fox, standing among serviceberry trees in blossom, beside reflecting pool at Aga Khan museum

reflecting pool in front of Islamic Center

The magnolias were also in bloom.

white magnolia blossoms on a tree