Overview participating exhibitions
Act of Faith
2007
Act of Faith
Nermine Hammam
ASHURA (Egypt, 2006-2007)
On Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, in the year 61 AH [680 CE], in a struggle for the leadership of Islam, Hussayn, the grandson of the prophet Mohammed challenged Calif Yazid in combat. Husasyn lost the battle. On Ashura Shiites in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon still commemorate his violent death. To express their grief they beat themselves with chains and swords. Hammam's images of the Ashura observances call up associations with Shiite iconography and current political events. This enables her to offer a commentary on the obsessive picture of Islam as a bloodthirsty religion.
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ASHURA (Egypt, 2006-2007)
On Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, in the year 61 AH [680 CE], in a struggle for the leadership of Islam, Hussayn, the grandson of the prophet Mohammed challenged Calif Yazid in combat. Husasyn lost the battle. On Ashura Shiites in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon still commemorate his violent death. To express their grief they beat themselves with chains and swords. Hammam's images of the Ashura observances call up associations with Shiite iconography and current political events. This enables her to offer a commentary on the obsessive picture of Islam as a bloodthirsty religion.
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ASHURA (Egypt, 2006-2007)
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ASHURA (Egypt, 2006-2007)
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ASHURA (Egypt, 2006-2007)
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PALIMPSEST (2006-2007)
In Egypt both Muslims and Christians believe in supernatural powers. For instance, the Koran speaks of invisible djins, disembodied beings from another world that seek to communicate with men. A djin can take possession of someone, resulting in a physical and mental crisis. The expulsion of devils and djins is a practice shared by Egyptian Christians and Muslims alike. Nermine Hammam photographed a Christian exorcism which was attended by believers of both faiths. It is, she says, not only a spiritual ritual, but also a dialog between the two religions.
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PALIMPSEST (2006-2007)
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PALIMPSEST (2006-2007)
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PALIMPSEST (2006-2007)
Biography
Nermine Hammam (b. 1967, Egypt) is a successful businesswoman from Cairo. As a photographer she focuses on the spiritual rituals of the Middle East.
