Aswan Women
Dublin Core
Title
Aswan Women
Subject
Motivation: When I was photographing around Aswan, portraying the daily – life of the people in different situations on the streets, near their shops, houses, from kids to adults, trying to really understand these places. This ancient city, well known for their Nubian Egyptian splendid temples, but not at all about the people that live here today.
Of course I photographed kids, men and also many women, observing how they look like and how their life is very different in this country, comparing to my European, Italian culture.
The beauty to see and understand different places is especially interesting when some questions come naturally, observing behaviors and their cultural society mind settings, which drive and move the lives of their inhabitants. As it was very strange to see that a person can dress completely in black, from the head to the feet, when outside is sunny with 48 degrees. Not only it doesn’t look comfortable, but bring you down a lot of energy, being like in a kind of oven.
Like all Italian women, that we love the sun and that we have conquered very slowly in the last 50 years, our rights more equal to the men’s right, of course be on the streets of the South of Egypt, is like to be in another “World”.
Where the perception of “You” as a woman, became suddenly “strange” and the eyes and mind of the people on the streets look, trade and relate differently then in the Western countries.
And the difference is even more deep, if you are an Egyptian woman and not a tourist one.
I’ve been in many families situations and many weddings around and I could see how the women roles are inside the family circle and how relate in the outside structure society.
The most interesting thing actually is not even the difference with my Italian-Western culture, but the big difference that ironically there is between the Egyptian society today and how was in the ancient temples times, of more then 2.000 years ago, looking like the ancient past is much more futuristic then these “modern” Egyptian times.
Where is very clear that the status of the women was more equal and an important part of All the Circles of Life, that the ancient always had a deep relation and respect of all alive creatures, which come to visit this Earth and will go back to the stars, far out there on the sky.
Observing how the history events go and change sometimes radically the life of the people and often of women, is a great way to learn how many answers you can have to the same questions, just because you are in a different “Place of Thinking”.
We are and we like to be different, but the real important question at the end of the day and of all the times, is:
“What we archived as humans, individuals first, with a great power of Thinking and Feel, if it is not permit to really think and feel… and learn more for the good of Everybody??”.
But the Women, creators of life, in some places have a really not any individual considerations, to the point that they should cover not only all their body, but also their unique face with their thoughts and feelings expressions of every second of their life.
A married woman is a “property” of the husband, that should hide more is possible and be visible and useful just for him and the family related.
And this is “Who we are” in some places, but if somebody decide to denied or hide this primordial way to exist and relate with others is all good, but the important that it is not accepted and followed as unfair rules and behaviors that for some reason changed the Women’s life for so long time, without to express often the best of themselves, that is not only clean and cook.
In fact, the Egyptians today are not so connected with the ancient Egyptian philosophy of life.
They are proud of the old temples which bring a lot of tourists from all over the world, but of course the Muslim Mosques are their reference and home of a different God!
I photographed simple, different daily and sometimes funny situations of women in their streets, full of life, colors and movement everywhere, where people are very welcome, playful and ironic.
Hopefully the new generations, will understand what is really right between Humans, no matter if Man or Woman, that should be a basic human sense, that in some societies is finally very clear, in other not at all.
Woman are great creatures and deserve not to be came like men, but like them, have the chance to express their same and different high human qualities.
Of course I photographed kids, men and also many women, observing how they look like and how their life is very different in this country, comparing to my European, Italian culture.
The beauty to see and understand different places is especially interesting when some questions come naturally, observing behaviors and their cultural society mind settings, which drive and move the lives of their inhabitants. As it was very strange to see that a person can dress completely in black, from the head to the feet, when outside is sunny with 48 degrees. Not only it doesn’t look comfortable, but bring you down a lot of energy, being like in a kind of oven.
Like all Italian women, that we love the sun and that we have conquered very slowly in the last 50 years, our rights more equal to the men’s right, of course be on the streets of the South of Egypt, is like to be in another “World”.
Where the perception of “You” as a woman, became suddenly “strange” and the eyes and mind of the people on the streets look, trade and relate differently then in the Western countries.
And the difference is even more deep, if you are an Egyptian woman and not a tourist one.
I’ve been in many families situations and many weddings around and I could see how the women roles are inside the family circle and how relate in the outside structure society.
The most interesting thing actually is not even the difference with my Italian-Western culture, but the big difference that ironically there is between the Egyptian society today and how was in the ancient temples times, of more then 2.000 years ago, looking like the ancient past is much more futuristic then these “modern” Egyptian times.
Where is very clear that the status of the women was more equal and an important part of All the Circles of Life, that the ancient always had a deep relation and respect of all alive creatures, which come to visit this Earth and will go back to the stars, far out there on the sky.
Observing how the history events go and change sometimes radically the life of the people and often of women, is a great way to learn how many answers you can have to the same questions, just because you are in a different “Place of Thinking”.
We are and we like to be different, but the real important question at the end of the day and of all the times, is:
“What we archived as humans, individuals first, with a great power of Thinking and Feel, if it is not permit to really think and feel… and learn more for the good of Everybody??”.
But the Women, creators of life, in some places have a really not any individual considerations, to the point that they should cover not only all their body, but also their unique face with their thoughts and feelings expressions of every second of their life.
A married woman is a “property” of the husband, that should hide more is possible and be visible and useful just for him and the family related.
And this is “Who we are” in some places, but if somebody decide to denied or hide this primordial way to exist and relate with others is all good, but the important that it is not accepted and followed as unfair rules and behaviors that for some reason changed the Women’s life for so long time, without to express often the best of themselves, that is not only clean and cook.
In fact, the Egyptians today are not so connected with the ancient Egyptian philosophy of life.
They are proud of the old temples which bring a lot of tourists from all over the world, but of course the Muslim Mosques are their reference and home of a different God!
I photographed simple, different daily and sometimes funny situations of women in their streets, full of life, colors and movement everywhere, where people are very welcome, playful and ironic.
Hopefully the new generations, will understand what is really right between Humans, no matter if Man or Woman, that should be a basic human sense, that in some societies is finally very clear, in other not at all.
Woman are great creatures and deserve not to be came like men, but like them, have the chance to express their same and different high human qualities.
Description
ASWAN, Feb. – May, 2018.
Aswan is the southernmost city of Egypt and in the ancient past it was very important, considered the “begin” of the Upper country.
It was a trade place with incredible culture and beautiful temples.
Most of the Egyptian tombs, temples, colossal statues, obelisks and pyramids were made with huge blocks of particular granite from the famed far southern Aswan quarries.
Aswan, being close to the Nubian region on the border between the Arab and African world, was called “The gateway to Africa.”
Its glorious pharaonic ancient past is still visible today, but unfortunately only in the stunning beauty of the temples, monuments, tombs and archeological sites along the blue Nile.
Thanks to the great work of the UNESCO, twenty-two important Nubian-Egyptian temples were deconstructed and relocated before the end of the construction of the Aswan’s High Dam (1960 – ’76).
Save these beautiful ancient temples, like Philae, Kalabsha, Amada, Abu Simbel and others have been vital also for Aswan’s local economy, because they are the main regional international tourist attraction.
With the creation of the dam and the largest artificial Lake Nasser, most of the ancient Nubia sinked under the water and around 100,000 Nubians were forced to flee 39 villages. They have been relocated in Sudan and in Egypt and in Aswan there is the biggest number of Nubians, which moved here and in other new 44 villages of the other northern towns.
Aswan, today, is well-known for its archeological treasures, but not so much for the life of its modern-day inhabitants.
I was interested in discovering and photographing the real identity of this city, with its vivacious and smiling kids, teenagers, men, women and families in the streets, near their houses and where they work.
The streets are full of life and sounds, especially in its center, where an old souk expands like a labyrinth and is always bustling day and night.
Like in many other countries, strong transformations of religion, culture and politic had shaped until today this country that stil going trough difficult years.
Unfortunately, these long years of social and economical problems and the decline of tourism are very visible in all country and also in the degradation of this city.
Where many new buildings are unfinished and the oldest ones are degrading for the lack of maintenance, between condos and simple and colored family houses.
It was a pity to see the amount of plastic everywhere, especially thinking how beautiful the Nile is around here, clean and mostly untouched on the south area of the city, with many colorful Nubian Villages along the river surrounded by the desert.
Interesting aspects between the ancient and modern times, reveal different cultural contrasts and questions about this society’s evolution and how the same descendants have changed, more or less freely, the path of some basic social believe systems.
Despite many problems of this interesting country, the Egyptians, especially in Aswan, keep always a smile and a happy loud welcome for any kind of tourist.
Many are funny, saying…: ”Welcome to Alaska!”
Aswan is one of the hottest, sunniest and driest cities in the world.
Aswan is the southernmost city of Egypt and in the ancient past it was very important, considered the “begin” of the Upper country.
It was a trade place with incredible culture and beautiful temples.
Most of the Egyptian tombs, temples, colossal statues, obelisks and pyramids were made with huge blocks of particular granite from the famed far southern Aswan quarries.
Aswan, being close to the Nubian region on the border between the Arab and African world, was called “The gateway to Africa.”
Its glorious pharaonic ancient past is still visible today, but unfortunately only in the stunning beauty of the temples, monuments, tombs and archeological sites along the blue Nile.
Thanks to the great work of the UNESCO, twenty-two important Nubian-Egyptian temples were deconstructed and relocated before the end of the construction of the Aswan’s High Dam (1960 – ’76).
Save these beautiful ancient temples, like Philae, Kalabsha, Amada, Abu Simbel and others have been vital also for Aswan’s local economy, because they are the main regional international tourist attraction.
With the creation of the dam and the largest artificial Lake Nasser, most of the ancient Nubia sinked under the water and around 100,000 Nubians were forced to flee 39 villages. They have been relocated in Sudan and in Egypt and in Aswan there is the biggest number of Nubians, which moved here and in other new 44 villages of the other northern towns.
Aswan, today, is well-known for its archeological treasures, but not so much for the life of its modern-day inhabitants.
I was interested in discovering and photographing the real identity of this city, with its vivacious and smiling kids, teenagers, men, women and families in the streets, near their houses and where they work.
The streets are full of life and sounds, especially in its center, where an old souk expands like a labyrinth and is always bustling day and night.
Like in many other countries, strong transformations of religion, culture and politic had shaped until today this country that stil going trough difficult years.
Unfortunately, these long years of social and economical problems and the decline of tourism are very visible in all country and also in the degradation of this city.
Where many new buildings are unfinished and the oldest ones are degrading for the lack of maintenance, between condos and simple and colored family houses.
It was a pity to see the amount of plastic everywhere, especially thinking how beautiful the Nile is around here, clean and mostly untouched on the south area of the city, with many colorful Nubian Villages along the river surrounded by the desert.
Interesting aspects between the ancient and modern times, reveal different cultural contrasts and questions about this society’s evolution and how the same descendants have changed, more or less freely, the path of some basic social believe systems.
Despite many problems of this interesting country, the Egyptians, especially in Aswan, keep always a smile and a happy loud welcome for any kind of tourist.
Many are funny, saying…: ”Welcome to Alaska!”
Aswan is one of the hottest, sunniest and driest cities in the world.
Creator
Monia Lippi
Source
https://monialippi.com/aswan-women/
Publisher
No.
Date
Feb. – May 2018
Rights
Approved to publish
Relation
Commissioned/supported/financed: self-initiated
Language
English
Type
street photography, documentary photography
Coverage
Location: Aswan
