Uninhibited: People of the earth الغير مقيدين: أهل الأرض

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Uninhibited: People of the Earth - الغير مقيدين: أهل الأرض

Multimedia

2022 - Ongoing Research and Body of works

Uninhibited: People of the Earth is an ongoing body of work which includes photography, fiber tapestries, performance videos, soundscapes, reconstructed instrument installations, and live performances. This body of work is centered around fading migratory healing practices from the Arabian Peninsula, as well as practices which have originated from East Africa such as Zar. Healing rituals and ceremonies typically center a reciprocal relationship between earth and the human body. The practices were often dedicated to spirits called ‘ahl al arth’ direct translation is “people of the earth”. These practices were utilized by women and marginalized community members, providing relief in processing grief, trauma, navigating the unknown, and building resourceful communities. Through archives, oral stories, merged with my professional background as a somatic art therapist, I uncover personal memories of these ritualistic practices in my own lineage allowing me to deepen my understanding of this ancient ritual's psychological underpinnings compared to modern medicine. This body of work explores ways to reimagine traditional practices to address trauma, the marginalization of women and immigrant people and the climate crisis today. Pointing to a generative tension between the past and the present and into the future.