ESTABRAK / إستبرق

 Brazilians Under Water

2018+

Brazilians Under Water (BUW) is the second edition of my ambitiously proposed 'World Under Water' series, which is a global, multi-layered, photographic series that turns the camera's lens under water to reveal stories silenced, and people hidden, on land. While water typically distorts light and sound, in this project it acts as a clarifying prism: it draws out the elements of humanity (and inhumanity) that make up a uniformed society.

This system utalises localised waters as safe spaces for personal interaction, whilst opening doors of conversation and safe spaces for marginalised peoples.

BUW sarted in 2018 after having been invited to Brazil by Instituto Sacatar, for an artistic residency and fellowship on the island of Itaparica, Salvador, Bahia.

The project spanned over a three month period and predominantly focused on the complexities of the art form of Capoiera and the religion of Candomblé.

Within this intuitive photographic series, subject’s heads are usually kept above water so they cannot be personally identified, as these images are often taken in spaces where individual identification could lead to violent or oppressive political responses.

However, subject’s clothes and uniform, as well as the water, communicate social identity, indicating at whom they may be. By doing this, we can safely delve into the complex interplay of people, power and place, and attempt to re-humanise conversations that have de-humanised so many.