CULTURE • FOCUS
NATREEN, 2013
Rite of PASSAGE Absolutely previews a new exhibition of Leila Alaoui’s work at Somerset House By ABBIE SCHOFIELD
T
hree young Moroccan men wait patiently at the waterfront, amongst the ruins of buildings. They are pensive, dreaming of starting a new life across the barrier of the sea. Having sacrificed their old lives and relationships in hopes of a better future in Europe, they are now stuck on their journey. They can’t move forward, but they can’t turn back. This powerful photograph was taken by French-Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui in 2008 as part of her series No Pasara, meaning Entry Denied. Alaoui was known for capturing the struggles of those displaced by conflict, providing insight into their rich cultures and individual worlds, from refugees to migrant workers. In 2016, Alaoui was injured in a terrorist attack while working on a photography project in Burkina Faso and died shortly afterwards. She was 33. No Pasara is one of three collections on display at Somerset House this season in collaboration with 1-54 Contemporary African Art fair, the first major retrospective exhibition of Alaoui’s work in the UK. Natreen (We Wait) was commissioned by the Danish Refugee Council and shows Syrian refugees fleeing the war in Lebanon. Alaoui captures their strength, resilience and beauty, a challenge to stereotypical media portrayals of refugees and immigrants. L’Île du Diable (Devil’s Island) is a work of film combining testimonials, sounds, videos and photographs depicting a generation of migrant workers who moved to Europe after World War II. They were displaced from their homes while working for an automobile factory in France, and Alaoui explores the impact of this on future generations. Alaoui’s photographs attempt to
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NO PASARA, 2008
NATREEN, 2013
show historically misunderstood and misrepresented groups in a new light, whether through a celebration of traditional clothing or showing their pain via raw and moving portraits. She spent time getting to know her subjects, and these personal relationships add a level of profound intimacy to her work. Alaoui lifts the voices and faces of those forgotten during conflict. R I T E O F PA S SAG E 11 October 2020-28 February 2021, Somerset House, The Strand, CW2R 1LA; somersethouse.org.uk
NATREEN, 2013
A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s
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