Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Susan Hefuna. It dates from 1999 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
They mimic mashrabiyas, the carved wooden screens common in Arab homes.
These are delicate drawings by Susan Hefuna from 1999. They mimic mashrabiyas, the carved wooden screens common in Arab homes. The screens let women peek out while hiding them from view.
Hefuna layers two sheets of paper. The bottom sheet is blurred, like a veil. The top sheet shows a clear pattern. Together they ask: who can see whom, and where?
The mashrabiya idea comes from traditional architecture. Check out Hefuna, Susan next.
Overview
Susan Hefuna's untitled drawing from 1999 is a delicate work inspired by mashrabiyas, traditional Arab wooden fretwork screens. The piece explores themes of visibility, privacy, and gendered space through a unique layered composition.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing examines the notion of gendered space by referencing the mashrabiya's historical function: allowing women to observe the outside world while remaining unseen. This dynamic is mirrored in the artwork's dual layers, where a 'veiled' lower layer contrasts with a clear, visible upper layer, prompting questions about perception and obscurity.
Technique & Style
Hefuna employs a distinctive technique of layering two sheets of paper. The bottom layer appears blurred, evoking the concept of a veil, while the top layer features a crisp, intricate pattern reminiscent of mashrabiya designs. This layered approach enhances the thematic exploration of visibility and concealment.
History & Provenance
Created in 1999, this drawing is part of a series by Hefuna on the same theme. The collection includes related works E.837 and E.839-2002, highlighting the artist's sustained engagement with the mashrabiya motif.
Context
Rooted in traditional Arab architecture, the mashrabiya motif reflects Hefuna's bi-cultural background (half Egyptian, half German) and her interest in the intersection of cultural and gendered spatial dynamics.
Artist & collection
Artist
Susan Hefuna (Arabic: سوزان حفونه) is a German-Egyptian visual artist. She works in a variety of media, including drawing, photography, sculpture, installation, video and performance. She lives and works between Cairo, Egypt and Germany.
