By Charlotte Ormond
Members of the University of Maryland’s Office of Multicultural Involvement and Community Advocacy unveiled “Weaponized Stories,” a project by Palestinian American photographer Yazan Aboushi, at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Tuesday.
The exhibit featured photographs of members of the Southwest Asian and North African, or SWANA, communities dressed in traditional clothing, some holding culturally significant items that reflect their identity.
The standout photographs featured dark backgrounds, drawing attention to the SWANA individuals adorned in hijabs, traditional jewelry and clothing.
Each photograph was accompanied by a quote from the subject of the image, sharing an important story or aspect of their culture or family.
Reem Saleh, a senior information science major and MICA Community Organizing Student Intern for SWANA, originally came up with the idea for the exhibit. Saleh, a member of the SWANA community, aimed to raise awareness for the community, as she believes they are misrepresented.
“Our community being negatively portrayed in the media is so common to see now, unfortunately. We wanted to use the same type of media, in this case photography, to shift that narrative,” Saleh said.
Aboushi, a recent UMD alum who graduated last May, has been a professional photographer for four years. However, this project was a new venture for Aboushi because he is most familiar with documentary and environmental photography. This was his first time shooting posed portraits and using studio lighting.
Aboushi and Saleh collaborated to create the title “Weaponized Stories.” Through a back-and-forth conversation, they ultimately agreed on the name, aiming to capture the essence of the exhibit’s message.
“The title comes from the concept of politicized identities and ‘the perfect victim,’” Saleh explained.
The concept of the “perfect victim” refers to how, when someone from the SWANA community passes away, their loved ones often feel pressured to portray them as highly accomplished to gain deserved recognition, according to Saleh.
“We shouldn’t have to do that because we are important. We don’t need to justify our existence. You should care about us because we are people,” Saleh said.
Aboushi highlighted the challenges faced by the SWANA community in the U.S., raising concerns about the assumptions and biases they encounter. He emphasized that this project aims to challenge these assumptions.
“An often overlooked aspect of people from these regions who grew up in America is that there is always this pressure to conform and minimize certain parts of your identity because here in the States, they are highly politicized,” Aboushi said.
Lena Elamin, a junior English major and a Sudanese American, modeled in the photographs to connect with the community and help raise awareness about their stories. Elamin expressed that her favorite aspect of her culture is its strong focus on family.
“Within a village in Sudan, all your neighbors are your extended family. I think that concept is so beautiful,” Elamin said.
A major theme of the exhibit was the importance of being unapologetically oneself. The photos aimed to portray individuals in the SWANA community celebrating their authentic identities.
For Saleh, being unapologetically herself is tied to how she presents herself to the world.
“For me, I represent my culture, despite all the challenges that I face. I wear a hijab so people are going to have assumptions about where I am from or what my religion is,” Saleh said.
For Elamin, being unapologetically herself means having the courage to speak up.
Aboushi hopes to use his art to reshape the narrative of his community and engage as many people as possible in the culture of the SWANA community.
“I think art is captivating. People who normally wouldn’t interact with these communities might see an exhibit like this today and my hope is that their perspectives might be opened,” Aboushi said.
The exhibit was on display at the Clarice from Nov. 18 through Nov. 24.
Featured Image: “Weaponized Stories” exhibit by photographer Yazan Aboushi. Photo by Anika Stikeleather