NDB expands to 11 members, raises $16.1bn in 2024, says Rousseff    Egypt, Somalia leaders discuss strategic partnership, counterterrorism in New Alamein    Egypt, UNDP discuss expanded cooperation on medical waste management, human development    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    EGX closes mixed on July 7th    Gold retreats as investors await tariff clarity    Egypt, UNDP discuss future health projects – Cabinet    Egypt calls for stronger central bank cooperation, local currency use at BRICS summit    Egypt's PM, Uruguay's president discuss Gaza, trade at BRICS summit    Egypt's Talaat Moustafa Group H1 sales jump 59% to EGP 211bn    Egypt, Uruguay eager to expand trade across key sectors    Egypt accelerates coastal protection projects amid rising climate threats    Deadly Israeli airstrikes pound Gaza as Doha talks raise hopes for ceasefire    Egypt, Norway hold informal talks ahead of global plastic treaty negotiations    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Global tour for Korean 'K-Comics' launches in Cairo with 'Hellbound' exhibition    Egypt teams up with private sector to boost university rankings    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger        Egypt's EHA, Schneider Electric sign MoU on sustainable infrastructure    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's EDA joins high-level Africa-Europe medicines regulatory talks    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Research through a camera lens
Published in Daily News Egypt on 27 - 09 - 2006

Local artist Hadeel Nazmy discusses her photography at CIC
CAIRO: Hadeel Nazmy is an artist who does not care about artistry. She doesn t waste her time looking for the right shot, the right angle or the right lens. Even the object is of little importance to her. In fact, Nazmy could perhaps be better described as a storyteller, with no plot. She says of herself: I use the camera like I m writing.
Nazmy studied painting at Alexandria University, but was always uncomfortable with the rigidity imposed on her. She decided to break away from the limitations of painting to focus on photography and video.
What she looks for in photography however, rather than traditional aesthetics, are the stories outside the pictures. I don t wait for something to catch my eye and then go photograph it. All while you re walking there are pictures, you just have to look for them.
What is unique about her photography has nothing to do with the photographs themselves. They are, for the most part, pictures any amateur could take, even including snapshots of friends and such. What is more interesting is her explanation of the photographs and videos: The story is not in the photo, it s outside the photo. The process is not about translating the place, but about translating a point of view.
Nazmy refers to her works as bahs, or research. For her, it seems, photography and video are just mediums, parts of a process, a way to record something about the present, but are the end products. She never starts a project with a plan or aim in sight. She starts with an idea that excites her and explores from there.
One research idea was inspired by a comment that Egypt is becoming modernized. Rather than seeking out the modern elements within Egypt, Nazmy turns this into a philosophical take on the phrase. Though she claims she was not seeking to contradict the statement, her shots for the modernism project are all streets and lakes outside urban Cairo, in poorer, more rural neighborhoods. While she acknowledges the expectation would be photos depicting the contradictory elements of the past with the modern, she defends the portrayal: modernism in Egypt is what s going on now.
Another portrayal she has had to defend is her 13-minute production of The Elevator, a film that garnered both gold medals and criticism when it was released in 2005.
The Elevator depicts a young woman trapped in an elevator, without phone credit, who receives a prank call from a man who first annoys her, then grows to be a more intimate confidante of sorts. The flirting is suggestive at some points and the film raised controversy due to the lead actress being veiled. Again, Nazmy wanted to break the assumptions we make: read the picture differently from how we re used to. [the main character] doesn t represent religion simply because she s wearing a veil.
What is especially interesting is the honesty interweaved with the acting, of which there is very little. The film did not have a scenario and the dialogue was unscripted and unguided - it evolved naturally when the almost-professional prank caller called the lead character.
Nazmy was the fourth Art talk featured by the Contemporary Image Collective (CIC), who is running a monthly series of local artists discussing their photography or videos/films. Curator Aleya Hamza admits that it is not easy to attract people to come talk about art but enjoys the dialogue and interaction made possible by the intimate setting, and says the devoted attendees who come regularly enjoy the talks very much.
Hamza says CIC focuses on artists using the medium in new ways and who raise questions through their works: It s important to have dialogue on cultural production today. it makes [the art] more interesting and valuable.


Clic here to read the story from its source.