ARA: A NEW FACE OF THE OLD WORLD

Ara: A New Face of the Old World is an exhibition using photography, film and installation by visual artist and filmmaker Sunara Begum. Sunara draws her influences from the natural world, figurative painting, religious iconography, mystical philosophies and the cultures in which she was raised. Combining cinematography and storytelling, Sunara’s work explores the themes of memory, identity, femininity and loss. The exhibition includes medium format photographs, text, an installation series entitled, Ara’s Dreams and three short films shot on 8mm and 16mm entitled Ara, Ara’s World and Ara’s Sojourn.

 

RETRACING THE EYE: GIVING A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS

Retracing the Eye: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless explores perspectives on homeland, retracing legacies and memories of forgotten history. Sunara has a unique ability to evoke an immediate emotional connection between subject and viewer and much of her work is occupied in capturing and conveying the expressions, emotions and gestures of her subjects. Sunara’s interest in the pioneering work of the 19th century Victorian photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron, inspired her to stage a new interpretation of her work, engaging and developing a timeless relationship with her images. She re-imagines the life of her silent subjects, over a century later, and her work is a symbol of untold stories. This series of etchings suggests the power of reclaiming the silenced voice that is all too often written out of human existence. Retracing the Eye: Giving a Voice to the Voiceless follows an intimate and poetic narrative drawing from the natural environment. The colours and textures in her work intrinsically connect to the landscape that she engages with, reminiscences of terracotta, earth pigment and draws from her own indigenous culture.