October 17, 2014
Identity as Home
The idea of home is an intrinsic part of how we perceive ourselves. When the narrative of one’s origin is uprooted, the sense of self can become opaque and muddled. As an Egyptian that grew up in Massachusetts, I was keen to explore the stories of others that found themselves on the periphery of a society they did not necessarily feel a part of. My research centered on the artistic community in Cairo and Alexandria. As I lived and travelled in Egypt recording the experiences of artists, what emerged was a shared narrative of marginalization, appropriation, innovation, and erasure. As Egypt continues to experience political flux in the wake of the 2011 Uprising, what does it mean to be an artist in Egypt today? Perhaps more importantly, what is an Egyptian? And when someone is outside their own society, is home truly where you hang your hat?
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