Too Visible - Invisible

Muslim pictures are overwhelming in many ways, and issues like: “the sense of belonging”, “identity”, the woman’s position within society, religion and refugees, are being explored in the 21st century like they have never been before.

Muslim women are too visible and, at the same time, invisible in Europe’s public places. The collection “Too Visible-Invisible” reveals many different ways of using the camera in order to draw attention to several European societies of the 20th and 21st century, such as Thrace (Greece), Scopje, Tetovo (Macedonia), Pristina, Prizren (Kosovo), Tirana, Rahova, Tomorr Mountain (Albania), Novi Pazar (Serbia), Shumen, Tergoviste (Bulgaria) and Istabul, Edirne, Chanakkale (Turkey), Marseilles, Paris (France), Brussels (Belgium), London, Bradford, Leeds, (UK), Amsterdam and Rotterdam (Holland), Duisburg and Berlin (Germany), Còrdoba, Almeria and Barcelona (Spain).

This collection shows women who dream, struggle, nurture their children, have fun, pray and follow their imams, take care of their dead, are educated, married, and, in general, preserve the traditional moral codes and social behaviours; such customs are not expected from immigrants of second and third generation in Europe.

When the issue of Islam and uniqueness comes up, these women stand out because of their headscarf and thus they become too visible. On the other hand, despite living in a big, crowded city, these figures remain invisible because their embodied identity ‘’forces’’ them to stay in the shadows: the passers-by get used to their presence and turn a blind eye to them, out of awkwardness, disdain, indifference or even fear of their unfamiliar appearance. Too Visible-Invisible is a search for understanding how Europe perceives and treats Muslim women. What has happened in the last decades in Europe allows the spectator to be exposed in a contradiction, both inner and personal between his or her perception of Europe and the representations of European realities, such as headscarves, Muslims, jihadists, Islamic schools, different eating habits, meaning what really exists which acquires substance, and lets you think of what is coming.

As for the Muslim women, they come into being, and become Visible through their simplicity, humanity and dignity.

2007, Belgium, Brussels. Muslim women are going along the streets of Molenbeck, one multinational neighborhood.By Fanny Sarri
2014, London, United Kingdom. Bus station. By Fanny Sarri
2008, Duisburg, Germany. Bus station.By Fanny Sarri
2007, Paris, France, subway.By Fanny Sarri
2010, Rotterdam, Netherlands, street.By Fanny Sarri
2010, Berlin, Germany.By Fanny Sarri
2009, Bradford, United Kingdom. Carlisle road.By Fanny Sarri
2010, Berlin, Germany.By Fanny Sarri
2004, Berlin, Germany. Wedding between members of the Soufi Muslims of Tariqa Buraniya. There are many Burhaniya Sufi centers (zawiya) around the world, where they meet regularly to pray, to sing, to celebrate and to socialize.By Fanny Sarri
In the feast that took place in the coffee shop of the village in Rahova, Albania, after the big Christian festival for the Saints Petre and Paul. They have brought their meal from their house. The people who dance here are Muslims. By Fanny Sarri
Nawel, of Algerian origin: Her father does not work at present and her three brothers are going to French schools and are living from the French state.By Fanny Sarri
Prayers of Algerian Nawel and her friend from Marocco, in the house of the latter. The baby is waiting silently for them to finish their prayers.By Fanny Sarri

See Also

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zenith Photo Award 2014

The third edition of the zenith Photo Award called upon professional and amateur photographers alike to pick up their cameras and take part in the debate on what Islam in Germany looks like.