Bushra Al-Fusail, #BikeForYemen campaign (2015) Following page: Amani AlShaali, Naïve (2014) Archival pigment print, 110 x 110 cm Courtesy of the artist, The Empty Quarter Gallery
For Bushra Al Fusail, a 29-year-old Yemeni photographer and a woman’s rights activist,
artist says, “I had solidarity from Yemeni women who got on bicycles but they had to
it all starts with the family. Her family was completely against the idea of her becoming
stop because the air strikes did not stop. UNDP began to encourage women in Aidan
a photographer. As she explains, “Take a photo, publish it but don’t say your name.
to bike because it is calmer there and there are no air strikes. They did this in order
The culture, the community and the society do not accept that. In the beginning, when
for women to continue their daily lives and for those who have small businesses.” In
I did my first exhibition, people would call my family and ask, ‘Why is your daughter
response to Al Fusail’s campaign, there was solidarity from Yemenis abroad—they
in the media? Her face is appearing on TV and newspapers.’ That was a huge thing.
rode on their bikes in 12 major cities around the world.
Until now I fight this… It is stressful when it comes from your roots. From your own house.” Her family did not attend her earlier exhibitions, which includes 10 KG of
Al Fusail describes herself as a feminist photographer because her body of work
Justice in 2009, Fashion and Identity in 2010 and Threads of Life in 2012, which all
specifically focuses on women’s rights. After visiting villages only one hour away from
took place in Yemen in association with foreign embassies. In time, however, they
the capital, she realized that girls were only educated until the sixth grade. As the
began to appreciate her pictures and take pride in her work. The artist says, “They see
artist explains, “From the first grade to the sixth grade they have afternoon classes
how passionate I am about it, how many people are talking about my photography.
but after sixth grade it is both morning and afternoon shifts. They are not allowed
At the end of the day, my mother suffered as well so she started making the links.”
to go because they need to stay at home to clean and cook. They are raised to believe that their job is to cook and clean for their brothers and their fathers. That is
On April 21st 2015, Al Fusail and 15 Yemeni women showed up in support of the
considered more important than their own education. These girls are mentally and
#BikeForYemen campaign spearheaded by the artist through social media, which
physically strong. At the age of 10 or 12 they are cooking, cleaning and taking care
called on women to ride bicycles through the war torn capital of Sana’a. Due to the
of goats.” In Al Fusail’s photograph, the viewer sees a woman covered except for
fuel shortages in the country, a result of the Saudi led coalition’s blockade of Yemen’s
her eyes. The woman is holding a book in one hand and a pencil in the other whilst
port, women were stuck at home while men got around on bikes. It was especially
standing by a stove. The message is clear: a woman’s education is more important
infuriating for the women who had jobs and were self-sufficient before the war. As the
than cooking and cleaning.
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