The Horniman Museum’s exhibition ‘All Eyes on Her!’ challenges stereotypes of Egyptian women. Curated by Heba Abd el Gawad, it celebrates contemporary lives and activism of Egyptian women, featuring historical artefacts and modern perspectives. Spanning three themes—resist, revolt, and reclaim—the show offers a renewed vision of what Egyptian womanhood represents today.
An exhibition at the Horniman Museum in London, titled ‘All Eyes on Her!’, urges for a fresh narrative surrounding Egyptian womanhood, instead of the stereotypical portrayals often seen in Western imagery. Senior curator Heba Abd el Gawad has worked tirelessly for over four years to create this event, aiming to showcase the true essence of Egyptian women beyond simplistic representations.
The exhibition counters the conventional orientalist depictions by celebrating what Abd el Gawad calls the everyday activism of Egyptian women. Artifacts from the museum, alongside new pieces from women in Egypt, capture a living and dynamic culture rather than a static, ancient one. “We wanted to show people the living Egypt,” she explained, emphasising modern aspects such as street culture and digital expressions like WhatsApp stickers.
Organised into three themed sections—resist, revolt, and reclaim—the exhibition highlights real-life women’s contributions to society. In the resist section, various women advocating for change, including Gehad Hamdy of the Speak Up initiative and filmmaker Mai Zayed are showcased. Here, Zayed’s personal journal provides insight into the struggles of female Olympic powerlifters.
Significantly, ‘All Eyes on Her!’ marks Horniman’s inaugural bilingual exhibition, with some displays exclusively in Arabic. “For the first time in my life, I stood in front of an exhibition window and could see myself,” Abd el Gawad mentions, reflecting on representation in the gallery space.
The visual identity of the exhibition is brought to life by Egyptian illustrator Dina Zaitoun, known as Artopathic. Zaitoun designed wallpaper and illustrations aimed at broadening understanding of Egyptian women’s lives. “We wanted to portray the normal woman… taking her kids to school,” Zaitoun stated, indicating a shift from traditional feminist imagery.
Each influential woman from the resist section is captured in vibrant frames, including Abla Kamel, rendered standing on a balcony, symbolising the duality of vulnerability and strength in Egyptian women. In the revolt section, Zaitoun examines the heroic women of the 1919 revolution, illustrating them in action, boldly challenging Western views on Arab women’s oppression. “We’re not victims, we’re revolutionary,” notes Abd el Gawad.
The reclaim section houses existing Egyptian artefacts alongside assertions like “take me back to my country” in Arabic. Here, a 19th-century belly dancer dress is contextualised with an account from Asmaa Halim, a therapist. This reframing seeks to restore belly dancing’s roots in empowerment rather than exoticisation. “It’s still a priority to return these historical artefacts to their home,” Abd el Gawad remarks, stressing the importance of controlling their narrative.
Overall, ‘All Eyes on Her!’ serves as a powerful platform for Egyptian women. The exhibition not only aims to reclaim cultural artefacts but also to challenge and redefine how these narratives are perceived. “We’re speaking for ourselves,” Abd el Gawad asserts, emphasising the significance of self-representation in reclaiming heritage.
The exhibition ‘All Eyes on Her!’ at the Horniman Museum offers a crucial re-examination of Egyptian womanhood and heritage. Through the exhibition’s narratives and artefacts, both historical and contemporary, it champions the voices and lives of Egyptian women, resisting stereotypical portrayals. Senior curator Heba Abd el Gawad’s initiative not only showcases women’s roles in history but also highlights the pressing need for self-representation and reclaiming cultural narratives.
Original Source: cairoscene.com