REHAB ELSADEK
b. 1972 works in Alexandria
Container, Found Object, Cloth, Pigments
At first, the work site didn’t seem to be an encouraging place
to produce. But as time went by, my perception changed. On our way
to Nuweiba I saw an old abandoned water tank rusting alongside the
road. It seemed that I was the only one to notice it, and it did not
occur to me that this tank with all its connotations would constitute
the main part of my work. Later, I visited a Bedouin family and as
I spoke to both women and men I realised how much a woman’s
place in this home was very different from what I saw in my own. It
was extremely restricted. This inspired me to speak with Bedouin men,
and have them write the names of the women close to them (be they
family members, friends, or neighbours) on pieces of canvas, which
I then used to cover parts of the tank. Discussions were held during
the process of writing the names about the significance of the owners
of these names. I hope that this was done in a way that would encourage
people to continue writing and discussing long after I left the object.
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