Uncovering Family Affairs
By: Salma Abouelwafa
@salmaabouelwaf
Photographer: Sophia Mattar
“Keep it in the Family”, a student photo exhibit that dares to explore private family dynamics and defines the family as seen through the photographer’s lens, opened at the Photographic Gallery September 14.
Running till October 5, the exhibit provides deep insight into the cultures. and traditions that slowly but surely changed the definition of family in the 21st Century. Students shared their own contemporary, intimate perspectives through a series of visual depictions that reflect ideas like loss, belonging, duty, and
warmth. The photos use light, shadow, and undertones to reflect family contrast, comfort, or even estrangement. Some pictures depict old family houses with blue hues to show how time changes
things. Others are graced with a warm and comforting light revealing of the quality time spent with loved ones
“We decided to choose this theme because it is something that affects everyone’s life. Everyone has a family, and everyone wants to represent what family means to them,” said exhibit mentor Ahmed Husseiny, and adjunct photography professor at the Department of Journalism and Mass Com-munication (JRMC). Other professors in the department, such as Nadia Mounier and Ronnie
Close, guided the students through the process and helped transfer their unique, yet complex concepts into creative visual tools of communication.
“Most of the students were excited to really open up on sharing their private lives, experiences, and emotions towards their families,” Husseiny said. Many of the series dig into some of the controversial or “kept in the family” topics. Such direction is meant to push the limit of what can and cannot be expressed in the Egyptian and Arab art scene.
Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) senior Habiba Ghannam believes that single parenthood is nothing to be ashamed of and that life is not all “rainbows and sunshine”.
“I’ve personally always felt embarrassed or that I didn’t fit in because the sense of ‘family’ wasn’t that strong when it came to my life,” she says.
However, Ghannam had a keen desire to openly portray this specific subject because she’s seen the pain single mothers around her have to endure to maintain a stable family with the absence of a father.
“Society and everyone around them simply doesn’t appreciate them enough or understand what they go through each day,” Ghannam told The Caravan.
“I had so much fun shooting with my grandparents. I felt it was memorable and I feel I used the right shades, colors, and everything. And I hope I take more advanced courses in photography,” said Nour Wael, an IMC senior.
The Photographic Gallery is a creative space that hosts multiple exhibits of photos and other art media throughout the semester.
“The exhibition is the output of a long process that started in the classroom where students brainstormed together on how to depict a family using the camera. A lot of ideas sprang up and each student found his/her approach, then went on to produce intimate and complex works about their families,” Curator of The Photographic Gallery Dina ElDeeb told The Caravan.
“While working with the material, the photos induced within me a mix of feelings; warmth, sadness, nostalgia, and vulnerability, which is the typical emotional response to the complexity within all our families,” she added.
