Striking colors, culturally rich atmosphere, and of course visually appealing aesthetic pictures that left us blown away… It was brilliant Fashion Photographer Amina Zaher’s latest exhibition Kenya Aesthetics displayed at Maadi’s Arcade Gallery.
Portraying the natural beauty of the Maasai tribes in Kenya, the exhibition was certainly out of this world!
“I was hit by the effortless human aesthetics, the alternative way of expressing vestimentary codes and refinement, the elegance of lines and the sensual intimacy that they naturally conveyed,” says Amina through her project statement.
Originally a Fashion Photographer, Amina has always loved documentary photography and combining both humans and clothes since they all complement one another. It was not staged fashion photography nor was it candid documentary photography, it was a mutual visual, aesthetic and intimate conversation that I was having with them,” she adds.
When asked about the locals’ first reaction to her camera, Amina expressed how they were welcoming, happy, and excited to be photographed. “They liked seeing the pictures afterwards and towards the end, they started improvising and it was fun,” Amina says. Yet, she explained that the boys there were more interactive than the women, since they rarely showed up.
For Amina, it’s vital to keep portraying different cultures through Art to make people more aware and understanding of the world. “For instance, some people in the West still think we Egyptian commute through camels until this very day, so it’s important to show people what others are up to,” she adds.
The exhibition received plenty of positive reactions from the media, the audience and well-known artists and photographers, according to Layla El Farouk, Owner of Arcade gallery.
“The photos instantly grabbed my attention on so many levels. I loved how Amina did not shoot the typical expected tourist photography. You can definitely see her fashion background influence with a contemporary twist,” Layla says. For her, this exhibition is extra special since its Amina’s her childhood friend and it’s her first solo exhibition.
“I was hit by the effortless human aesthetics, the alternative way of expressing vestimentary codes and refinement, the elegance of lines and the sensual intimacy that they naturally conveyed,” says Amina through her project statement.
