Alexandra Kremer-Khomassouridze’s Faces of Freedom photographic series depicts 50 women from Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, France, Georgia, England and the United States – ranging from different cultural backgrounds and professions – exploring their perception of identity in relation to freedom of choice.

The fascinating, monochrome, passport-style photos, which portray the women appearing first unveiled and then wearing a hijab, opens at Asia House on 3 February and runs as part of London’s second annual Buta Festival – a celebration of Azerbaijani arts and culture.

Kremer-Khomassouridze’s moving and intimate work, curated by Farah Pirieva, embraces the complexity of the issue of the veil, currently a hot topic of international debate and controversy.

In the artist’s own words: "No one left my studio the same. Our conversations had a lasting effect on each of the ladies, as well as myself. The complexity of the process was amazing. Some of my models, experiencing this for the first time, cried and preferred not to wear a hijab at all; some responded exactly the opposite, telling me that they would consider wearing it one day, others who entered the studio wearing a hijab refused to take it off.”

The international photographer, who left Azerbaijan in 1989, was inspired to capture the photographs upon returning to the country’s capital, Baku, in 2011.

 "When I left Azerbaijan 22 years ago the hijab was in decline, particularly among younger women who preferred to wear jeans and mini skirts as a sign that they were embracing a new ideology of multiculturalism.

"When I returned 22 years after, I was amazed to see young Azeri women choosing to wear the hijab again. I felt like I had discovered a new Baku, full of interesting contrasts where freedom could look different to different people. Faces of Freedom is my way of interpreting and exploring these differences – the freedom to wear a hijab and the freedom not to wear it.”

Alexandra Kremer-Khomassouridze is a recognized professional photographer and a graduate of the prestigious photography schools Efet and IRIS. She has also studied Fine Art at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts in Baku, and received her Master’s degree in photojournalism, supervised by a celebrated war correspondent Yan Morvan. As an international photographer, her work has been showcased in exhibitions across major world cities, including Moscow, St Petersburg, Kornberg, Baku, London, Paris and she has been published in the international press, such as Paris Match, Le Monde, Le Figaro, Diapason and others.

Born in Moscow and raised in Baku, Alexandra Kremer-Khomassouridze has Azerbaijani, Georgian and Russian roots. For the past 25 years she has been a resident in France, living and working in Paris. She is the author of the book Life Music presenting the world famous classical musicians and their lives behind the stage. Alexandra Kremer- Khomassouridze’s work is held in corporate and private collections worldwide.

 

(asiahouse.org)