Interdisciplinary visual artist. Cultural intricacies. Omani female voice.
ABOUT
Based in Muscat, Oman.
Eman Ali is an Omani interdisciplinary visual artist.
In 2008 she graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design with a BA in Graphic Design, and then from the Royal College of Art in 2017 with an MA in Photography. She was a Single Image winner at the British Journal of Photography 2020 Female in Focus Awards.
Her work interlaces gender, religious and socio-political ideologies to question cultural intricacies of Khaleeji societies and women's representations in the Arab world.
She explores these themes through a hybrid of artistic expression ranging from image-making to text, light installation and sound.
Her portfolio includes projects such as Utendi, an ongoing series about the representation and power of the feminine in Swahili culture, and Succession, a series that explores her concern for Oman’s political future through the use of archival material that focuses on the first decade of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s rule, and prompts consideration of themes such as national identity, history, memory, and loss.
Her artwork can be found in the private collection of individuals in the US, UK and GCC.
Discover her artworks on mynt.art
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Exhibitions
Solo show
2019 Utendi, 50 Golborne Gallery, London
Group shows
2021 Female In Focus Award Exhibition, El Barrio's Artspace, New York
2019 - 2020 The Place I Call Home, Touring exhibition, UK + GCC
2019 Lagos Biennial 2nd Edition, Nigeria
Awards
2020 Winner (Single Image), Female in Focus, An Award for Women Photographers
Galleries she is working with:
50 Golborne Gallery (UK)
Hunna Art Gallery (UAE)
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MYNT.ERVIEW
Your art is…
an ever-evolving journey of self-discovery.
Name something you love, and why.
Surfing because it brings me so much peace.
Which professional success meant the most to you?
My first solo show.
Where do you go when you want to be with you?
The ocean.
Tell us something about your education!
I did my BA in Graphic Design.
Why photography?
Because I don't have the patience to draw or paint.
What was the weirdest encounter, the craziest adventure or the most beautiful moment you experienced on a shoot?
One of the most memorable moments was when I was shooting a group of women In Kenya and they all really got into it sharing their ideas and bringing their creativity to the shoot itself.
Form or content?
Both are equally important to me.
Where does your inspiration live?
Everywhere.
What would you do if you weren't afraid?
Mountain climbing.
