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Susan Hefuna superimposes layers, weaving them to a depth that alludes to limitless meanings, from the direct to the elusive. As an artist of dual heritage-German and Egyptian-Hefuna's work reflects her experience in between two cultures, dealing with cross-cultural codes; she constantly plays at what images mean and how they work, creating a dream-like space where viewers can attach a wide array of significances to indicators of time and location.
For more than 16 years, Hefuna has constantly returned to the theme of the mashribiya, those gridded windows of ancient Islamic architecture that allowed air circulation, filtered light into houses, and protected women from public view but also allowed them to see the outside world. The mashribiya acts as a symbol of Hefuna's in-between place; it separates, yet at the same time it filters and joins.
Ultimately, Hefuna transcends labels, creating work that is open-ended and overcomes boundaries by directly addressing questions of belonging and representation at large. Through her own act of framing, Hefuna turns the nation of the picturesque and the exotic on its head.
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Installation, 2009, Wood and gouache, Art Dubai |
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