Ibi Ibrahim brings fresh, new meaning to the words “visual artist.” Born and raised in Yemen and currently living in Manhattan, Ibrahim aims to provoke and create international dialogue through his (typically black and white) photography.
Ibrahim’s work is renown for dealing with “taboo” issues in the Middle East. In the photo series called Fatima, he explores homosexuality, a topic that one can imagine would be hugely controversial in a conservative, traditional place like Yemen. He credits a lot of his photography’s inspiration and subjects to his upbringing in Yemen, where he witnessed women he knew complain about their abusive husbands, among other things. His images cause a commotion because they show Muslim women in ways that undermine the traditional, patriarchal values of the Middle East. In his Cinamag.com interview, he noted that, “it’s when the work is about the woman, that much of those men recall God, and recall their honor…Those negative responses from the men of Yemen are a reminder that in Yemen, a woman’s body does not belong to her yet.” Pictured here are two veiled women with their faces just inches apart; such a picture is one of the reasons why Ibrahim has been criticized for being too defiant of Islamic values.
Unhappy with living in Yemen coupled with a desire to chase his dreams, Ibrahim decided to leave Yemen to pursue a career in photography in New York City. He wanted to go somewhere where his work wouldn’t be censored like it would be in Yemen; according to his interview with Amal Abdul Aziz of the Levantine Cultural Center, he states that “my art is my voice. And if I allow someone to take it away from me, then what’s the point in living?” Interestingly enough, although initially his photographs were not well-received and even shunned in the Middle East, once the Western art world took note of Ibrahim and praised him, the Middle East began to exhibit his work in a more accepting way.
Here in New York, Ibrahim makes use of social media sites like Facebook as platforms for posting his work and starting dialogues within his audience. He enjoys logging into the sites and seeing his posts set off “about 20 Yemeni arguing or having a good discussion.” His Tumblr and Pinterest accounts show his work openly, without censorship.
Ibrahim’s love of dialogue, controversy, and social media make him truly contemporary for a person who grew up in the Middle East. If his work interests you, check out Boushra Almutawakel‘s story and photographs, as they also deal with the struggles of women living in the Middle East (Ibrahim is a fan: “The more I look at her work, the more I fall in love with it.”).
A photo from Ibrahim’s series titled Sitara can be found here.
Our interview with Ibi Ibrahim
1. What made you want to be an artist, and with such mixed mediums?
I feel it was a path I found interesting in the sense that it enabled me to talk [about] myself and where I come from but without the need to use many words. That’s always been one of the reasons.
I brainstorm often. I read a lot and I always talk with young Yemenis about their issues and struggles. Most of the ideas come from that point or my own memories of growing up there. It wouldn’t really be easy to come up with an idea, the challenge [is] in making it come to life.
3. What artists would you say are your biggest influences?
I’ve always been influenced by Shirin Neshat – I find her story to be close to mine.
4. Are there any other up-and-coming Yemeni artists you think deserve more attention?
Amr Attamimi. I am a huge fan of his work.
5. Your art presses a lot of “taboo” subjects, do you ever struggle to balance your art and your traditions?
Those taboo subjects were once openly discussed in the Middle Eastern society. I am just creating work that reminds us who were once were, what we are today and where are we heading to.
6. How has your art been received throughout the world?
I recently had a solo exhibition in London part of Art14 fair. It was a great exhibition and received much positive feedback. I am happy about that, and putting more positive energy towards my upcoming series.
7. Have you ever gotten into trouble because of your art?
Of course. It’s a non-stop struggle. I have been attacked verbally often, and harassed via social media. Some people sent me death threats – but I don’t let those actions stop me.
8. How would you compare American and Yemeni art? Do you see any similarities and differences between them?
There is no comparison. There is almost no art scene in Yemen; its extremely small and ill. I wouldn’t be able to answer this question.
9. How did you like your time living in New York?
It was a learning experience and it made me who I am today. I met the best people there, and we’re forever friends. New York will always be my home.
10. Did you ever eat at the Yemen Cafe while you lived in New York?
Of course, I did. It’s a great place and I often brought my friends there to discover [a] few things about Yemen!
11. You’ve lived in a lot of different places throughout your life, did you ever feel uprooted or lost during your migration?
There is some uprooting but then there is some [loss]. Back in the day, I didn’t have facebook or email to keep in touch with all my friends. I didn’t like that part about moving from one country to another. Now, I am in touch with all my friends so it doesn’t matter where I will be tomorrow, I will always be connected to them. I am answering these questions from Bali!
12. What made you decide to move back to Yemen?
It was time to return, to learn about the Yemen after the revolution and create work based on that moment in time. That would be my main reason to have returned. I wanted to be based in Yemen for sometime.
13. Do you have any projects lined up that you’re excited about?
I am doing an art residency in Paris this fall. I am extremely excited for that. There are also few shows here and there that are lined up. I will announce them on my Facebook page once all is confirmed.
14. If you could share one message with a group of students studying Yemeni culture in New York, what would it be?
Find what you love, create dreams and make them reality
-Aziz, Amal Abdul. “Yemeni-American Artist Ibi Ibrahim: 10 Questions.” Levantinecenter.org. N.p., 09 July 2012. Web. 12 May 2014. <http://www.levantinecenter.org/levantine-review/articles/yemeni-american-artist-ibi-ibrahim-10-questions>.
-Debass, Milena Mikael. “IBI IBRAHIM: NO TABOO IN ART.” CIMA. N.p., Mar. 2013. Web. 12 May 2014. <http://www.cimamag.com/insight-into-ibi-ibrahim-no-taboo-in-art/>.
-http://ibiibrahim.tumblr.com/
-http://www.pinterest.com/ibiibrahim/”