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The world is forever changing with the digital age, and life in Bahrain is no exception as the kingdom continues to go with the flow of technological advancements.
Inspired by this ‘modernity’ and the work of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami whose style is defined by mystical realism that engages in a spiritual and material world, Bahraini fine art photographer Dr Hesham Al Ammal snapped up settings across Bahrain in a bid to preserve the island’s identity while also drawing attention to its effects on nature.
The 55-year-old artist from Muharraq has put 38 poignant photographs, in colour and black and white, on show for all to enjoy at Al Riwaq Art Space, Gufool. His exhibition is entitled Hardboiled Wonderland: In Search of Lost Memory.
“Modernity has brought a host of promises that have captivated societies worldwide, which aims to create a brighter future marked by rationality, liberty and social justice,” said Dr Hesham whose work deals with social, environmental and cultural topics.
“While these grand visions have shaped the hopes and dreams of countless individuals, modernity also brought unintended consequences and unfulfilled dreams. Its relentless march threatens to erase our cherished cultural identity. We navigate a world where memories become elusive and fragmented, concealed beneath layers of technology and societal shifts and a promised pristine modern wonderland.
“I was inspired by the accelerating disappearance of Bahraini colloquial living and access to nature. Also, environmental and social reasons inspired the exhibition — including the lack of access to nature, the ever-decreasing seaside and the vanishing countryside.
“Nostalgia was never on my mind as modernity has improved the quality of life. The main inspiration was the need to adopt modern solutions and modern living that does not destroy Bahrain’s identity and environment.”
Dr Hesham took to analogue photography as he started a journey exploring the themes of cultural identity, time and the profound longing to reclaim what has been lost in the relentless pursuit of progress.
“The exhibition has been mostly done using old-style analogue photography, which I think goes along with the topic,” shared Dr Hesham who graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Warwick and currently teaches computer science and artificial intelligence at the University of Bahrain.
“My main cameras are a Rolleiflex 2.8f and 3.5f, but some images were also taken using large format 4x5 and 8x10 cameras. I process the films at home and then print them at a local shop.”
While this is his first solo exhibition, his images have been showcased over several occasions at various galleries, including Bin Matar House’s At the Edge: Fluid Modernity and The Great Lockdown events, at the American University in Sharjah and at the Annual Fine Arts Exhibition in Bahrain.
“I participated in photo workshops organised by the Goethe Institute, Shaikh Ebrahim Centre, Leica Akademie, among others,” he added. “I also present lectures and workshops on various aspects of photography within the region.”
Aside from tackling issues such as authenticity, modernity and social norms, he also likes taking pictures of stray cats in Muharraq and Manama.
“Cats are a symbol of life in the alleyways and the merciful people who feed them and take care of them,” he said.
In the meantime, Dr Hesham has been working on another project for a number of years called Authenticity, which is a portraiture, with large or medium format analog photography, of Bahraini people who, he thinks, are ‘authentic and had meaningful lives’.
“The project is still in progress and will probably be published in a photobook,” he explained.
“I’m also working on discussing how to save Bahrain’s photographic memory by increasing awareness and interest in preserving old images and negatives representing Bahraini culture.
“This will be discussed at a meeting within the exhibition in Al Riwaq on August 5 from 10am to 2pm.
The event is part of the expanded media club on archiving Bahrain’s photographic memory and will include some of Bahrain’s photographers.”
His current showcase will run until August
31 and is open daily from 9am to 8pm.
Follow @heshaaam on Instagram for more details.
