dancing masks (everlasting disco) photo series . 2021 |
welcome to the everlasting disco! i'm so happy to be sharing this photo series i worked on with my dearest friend and talented photographer saeed khalifa.
i've been meaning to document the 'dancing masks' i worked on during my art residency at the cultural foundation in abu dhabi between october to december of last year (see blog post on that here). i wanted to bring them to life in some way, and reflect the themes i was thinking of when working on them. saeed came in and was given free reign to direct the photoshoot, and visually captured exactly what i had in mind – commemorating dancing during a time i was unable to, the feeling of transcendence with dance that's beyond the human experience, what's concealed or revealed in a space like a night club/disco, adornment and the rituals that come with a night out dancing. i'm so so happy with how these images turned out. the photos really encapsulate my experiences on the dance floor, completely void of my identity, presenting this other being that appears when dancing in dark, club spaces.
i've always wanted to collaborate with saeed on a project, and this felt like the perfect opportunity. just a little credit break down – masks designed and modelled by me. and the creative direction and photography are by saeed. thank you saeed for these. we did a pretty good job! also, for anyone in need of a professional photographer, please get in touch with saeed – he is proper talent!