Works of Art

Portrait

Website

http:/www.gazellesamizay.com

Basic Information

I just got accepted into the Master of Fine Arts program for Photography at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Stays abroad: 

Afghanistan, Iran, France, Jordan, Egypt, Japan, Taiwan, India, Mexico. These are places I’ve traveled but not necessarily lived in. I did teach English in Taiwan for 2 months. That is the longest stay on this list.

Gazelle Samizay (2007)

Talking about Art

Gazelle Samizay, a 26 year-old artist, was born in one of the most-mentioned countries in our daily News today, in Afghanistan. She left Kabul with her family in early childhood, to a time where non-communists were seen as subversives in Afghanistan. After a short stop in Paris they came to the United States of America, and finally settled in Pullman/ Washington State.

Her art, mainly photographs, are dealing inter alia with current political topics as well as cultural and ethic discourses whereupon she preserves the artistic site in the unique photographs she is shooting in different countries. Recently, she has been traveling to Afghanistan, Iran and India, and the photographs she is presenting on this art platform are partly the result of her stays abroad. Her travel to Afghanistan in 2005 has had a huge impact on her art: “Before, when I took photos of Afghanistan, I had this idea that I had to be “objective” and show things as they were. So there wasn’t any manipulation. My intent was to hold as non-biased of a position as I could so that I wasn’t in the way of Americans connecting with Afghans and their culture. Later I realized that, I can’t be objective, even if I try. I am trying to communicate a message, even if I say I’m being neutral.  Part of my desire to be ‘neutral’ was my fear of “rocking the boat” and upsetting people. The stereotyping series (“Harem”, “Red Enemy”) was liberating because I wasn’t trying to avoid stepping on people’s toes. I just said this is what I think, and it was very very clear what I was trying to communicate.”

So, Samizay's messages are clear: As being an “Afghan” and an “American” woman her intentions are “Creating peace and understanding between “different” groups of people. Questioning our notions and the way we determine others as different and how that serves our own motives—that “othering” another group of people puts us in a position of power. The bottom line of my work is that all humans are created equally. We are all the same. We have the same dreams, desires, fears. We all have parents, sometimes children, sisters and brothers. We all want to live safe, healthy and peaceful lives. So why not create community and unity around the world to achieve these common goals rather than focusing our energy on dividing ourselves, and focusing on destruction rather than creation.”

Samizay's photographies of Afghanistan as well as the stereotyping series (inter alia “Harem”, “Red Enemy”) are challenging the Occident's misconception on the Orient that can be seen in the works “Harem”, “Doves”, “Marrakesh”.

Being a part of at least two “different” cultures Samizay explores and depicts “Gender, race and war”. In regards to these three topics she reported: “As I write those three words, I see how maybe those 3 topics are in my work because I was born during a war, and I live as a different (?) race in the US, and I am a woman. Basically, I think that in the US and in the world, we live as if the subjugation of women and certain races and the existence of war are just part of the natural world—that war is inevitable, and that the subjugation of certain groups of people are necessary to be powerful.  I believe this is false. I believe that if people considered that we could live in a world without war and the subjugation of people, it would actually happen. The lie is thinking that war is necessary.  What if we lived in a world where everyone lived their life powerfully? So my work questions war, and questions the subjugation of groups of people. With the Afghanistan series (“Doves”), I wanted to show the beauty of Afghanistan and show everyday life. I wanted Americans to connect with this place in a way other than Osama bin Laden. I think it is much more difficult to bomb a country or have hate towards its people when you relate to it. War works on the premise that “I am better than you, we are different, and you are going to hurt me, so I will hurt you first.”

Samizay's inspirations are mainly guided by her diverse cultural background and her experiences. However, there are two art directions that have great impact on her work: “I love Persian/Arabic calligraphy and Islamic art.  When I see a mosque covered with various geometric patterns, colors and calligraphy, I am in awe. Each square foot of the mosque is a perfect composition of geometry and color, so is each wall, and so is the whole structure. It is a magnificent achievement that inspires me.  And though I am not religious, I am inspired by the fact that such an incredible art form was built as an homage to god or to a faith (islam). When I see a mosque that is the embodiment of beauty, light, community, and peace I think this is what religion/spirituality is about. Not all this other garbage.”

Samizay's wide spectrum of communicating through art is inter alia founded by her approach to connect to Old and New. She is not just admiring the perfection of the traditional pattern art in Islamic countries, she also admires Andy Warhol's artistic modus operandi : “He questioned the media and pop culture, but also used media and pop culture to disseminate his message.” The act of experimenting and searching of new ways to communicate her intentions connects Samizay's work to Warhol's. “It’s a combination of spontaneity and intervention. Many of my photos (...) started as chance. But there are always opportunities to intervene. For example, I see a scene, and I think this is a perfect example of what I’m trying to communicate, and I take a photo. Also, the “post production” process is all about intervention. Just the act of picking certain photos over others, and putting them in a certain order can change the context and message of the work.” Another experimental act in Samizay’s work is the picture in the picture. The several layers in the photography, e.g. in “Red Enemy” and “Harem” are the result “of double and triple exposing the film (...).”

Gazelle Samizay understands art as an “alternate medium (to communicate) than we are normally accustomed to, such as speaking and writing. Sometimes art is more effective in communicating specific ideas than other modes of communication (...) For me, my art has to satisfy the following criteria: visually stimulating, communicates a message.  It could just be visually stimulating, but it’s best when it also communicates a message. (Art is a mirror of) my thoughts. I see how art is way for me to digest my thoughts. It is way for me to process my emotions or complaints and to express my views to the world. Then, once I have an art show and have expressed myself, sometimes my views and opinions change. But it is the act of communicating my ideas that furthers me and my inquiry into certain issues.”

quotations by Gazelle Samizay (2007), essay by Nadine Zacharias (2007)