Sometimes interactive and other times static, For the Veil, Within the Veil, Without the Veil is an exhibition attempting to navigate a familiar yet fine line between danger and beauty.

Presented through underwater photography, installation, local (marine) woods and glass works, the show brings in different states of water, as well as personal everyday elements such as hair and domestic objects, to investigate the ever-evolving and ephemeral human condition. By choosing to work into glass accessible items of the everyday, viewers are invited to question the complexities of domestic, sometimes even violent human experiences, helping to straddle a conversation between that which is personal and that which is public.

In this activated field of autobiographical installation, underwater photography, glass art and spatial socio-politics, Estabrak’s works attempt to question why it’s ultimately we who govern each other’s behaviour when all that we can ever be in control of is ourselves.

The title of this exhibition is inspired by a recent online post by Tithi Bhattacharya, who was inspired by Vida Movahed – ‘the Girl of Enghelab street’.

About the artist

A collector of skills, Estabrak is an award winning cross-disciplinary artist, film maker, facilitator and researcher committed to experimentation, inclusivity and a participatory arts practice.

Named one of “five incredible underwater artists” by the BBC, for the past seven years Estabrak’s works have explored the intersections between human behaviour, water and our environments, centering racial, social, humanitarian and climate justice. Her process often references the external global and internal individual connectivity to each other, and of water.

Multi sensory in approach, she uses live techniques, film, projection, sound, performance, paint, installation, (underwater) photography, words and public participation to help highlight and dismantle ignored sociopolitical realities.

Water and beauty are tools for Estabrak to honestly focus on themes of love, trauma and belonging, whilst inviting community engagement to navigate the ever-evolving and ephemeral human condition. Often prioritizing the process of making not just the outcome.

Based in London and working internationally, she is originally from Iraq, born in Iran and raised in London, after having come to the UK with her family as a child refugee.

Estabrak has showcased on an international basis in such places as New York, Dubai and Berlin, along the way exhibiting at the Royal Academy of Arts and Tate Britain. She has been supported by agencies including the Wellcome Trust, Arts Council England, Unlimited, Invisible Dust, Bagri Foundation, Red Bull and the Ocean Global Foundation. Her work has also been presented to the UN.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM

Events & opening times

Thursday 13 October, 7-9pm: Launch event

Wednesday 2 November, 6:30 – 8:30pm: Talk & screening, more info here

Exhibition open:

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 1 – 6pm
Saturday: 1 – 4pm
Sunday, Monday & Tuesday: Closed

About Brighton Photo Fringe

Photo Fringe is a volunteer-led, collaborative platform providing essential professional development opportunities and peer-support for lens-based artists.

Their year-round programme fosters ambition, innovation and self-reliance in artists, nurtures confidence and creativity in participants and inspires audiences with extraordinary images in unexpected places. Since 2003, Photo Fringe has forged an international reputation for curating participation, developing pathways for people from all backgrounds to take part and enjoy photography.

Renowned for promoting outstanding new talent, Photo Fringe connects this nascent talent to new audiences, working with artist-led initiatives and festivals around the country.

Every two years Photo Fringe delivers an inclusive festival and everyone is invited.

Photo Fringe 2022- Real Utopias runs 6 – 30 October. Discover more about the theme and how to get involved here.

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Image credit: photograph and artwork by Estabrak

Image description: photograph taken underwater of the artist’s hand holding a pomegranate. The hand and pomegranate are reflected on the underside of the waters surface.