Um Al Dhabaab (Mother of Fog)

2022 - Film & Video (Film & Video)

29:45 minutes

Farah Al Qasimi

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Um Al Dhabaab (Mother of Fog) by Farah Al Qasimi addresses the myth of Al Qasimi tribe-instigated piracy in the Gulf, perpetuated by the British Empire and upheld by contemporary western academia. This narrative is contested through a fictional retelling of the 1819 siege of Al Dhayah fort and the subsequent Pax Britannica treaty that solidified Britain’s military presence in the Trucial States. Relayed across various locations and times in Ras Al Khaimah through the perspectives of an ancient jinn, the ghost of an Al Qasimi pirate, two RAK-based sisters, a Jack Sparrow impersonator and ship captain, and an 1819 British naval officer, the film challenges Western-centric historiographies of the Gulf and the lingering imperialist interests at play across Asia’s modern-day trade hubs. The film also grounds this conflict of portrayal in the twenty-first century by drawing parallels to pirate video games and movies in contemporary culture. The film was co-produced by Sharjah Art Foundation and KADIST, and premiered at the Sharjah Biennial 15: Thinking Historically in the Present opening in February 2023.

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Working primarily with photography, video and performance, Farah Al Qasimi examines postcolonial structures of power, gender, and taste in the Gulf Arab states. Dividing her time between Dubai and New York, Al Qasimi has integrated her practice as a social critique and observation of the layered aspects of each place indirectly. Through her bold and vibrant photographs, she explores the unspoken social norms and values embedded in a place, a moment, or an object. Creating work that confront commonplace notions of figurative photography and portraiture, Al Qasimi’s works challenge the viewer to consider their own understanding of reality, aspiration, individuality, and the reflected image.

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Colors:

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• myth.n.01
• capitalism.n.01
• imperialism.n.01
• culture.n.01
• history.n.01