LAURA EL-TANTAWY

THE VEIL

(2008-2012) 

My childhood memories often come to me as flashbacks. I see them flickering before my eyes and I try to reach out and touch them. I never can. But I have held onto one memory for as long and as strong as I can remember. I recall a moment when my mother knelt down to lift me off the ground, her sheer fabric hair cover slowly shifting in the soft summer breeze. The smell of jasmine filled the air as she caressed me. I still remember the glint in her eyes, magnified by the light hitting just the right spot on her beautiful face. The Veil is an ode to my mother. Having myself grown up in a moderate Muslim family with the majority of its women adorning a veil, it is impossible for me to look at the strong-willed women in my life as being subject to a symbol often portrayed as one that discounts them of their ambition, determination, their independence and ultimately their individuality. The practice of covering a woman’s hair, and sometimes face, is not restricted to followers of Islam - all the way from India to the Middle East, women have traditionally adorned some form of head cover as a public display of modesty. Also female followers of other faiths have traditionally covered their hair as part of their religious practice, such as with Catholic nuns. The Veil can bring women and cultures together – it doesn’t have to divide them.  

  • Varanasi, India
  • Mumbai, India
  • Jaipur, India
  • Jodhpur, India
  • Mumbai, India
  • Kolkata, India
  • Mumbai, India
  • Kolkata, India
  • Kolkata, India
  • Pushkar, India
  • Mumbai, India
  • *NEWS*
  • In the Shadow of the Pyramids
  • Beyond Here Is Nothing
  • A Star in the Sea
  • I'll Die For You | *ongoing*
  • The Veil
  • Books (buy.sample.read)
    • In the Shadow of the Pyramids | 2015
      • Flip Through
      • Spreads
      • Reviews
        • Gerry Badger, 1000 Words
        • Colin Pantall, Photo Eye
        • Loring Knoblauch, Collector Daily
        • Rahaab Allana, Aperture The Photobook Review
        • Fotografia Magazine
        • Josef Chladek Book Shelf
        • Photomonitor
        • Sue Steward, Hatje Kantz
        • Time Lightbox
        • Vrij Nederland
        • L'Oeil de la Photographie
        • TripleW
    • The People - Street Edition | 2015
      • Flip Through
      • Order
      • Spreads
      • Reviews
        • Colin Pantall
        • Josef Chladek Book Shelf
        • L'Oeil de la Photographie
        • Sue Steward, Hatje Kantz
    • The People - Collectible Edition | 2015
    • Post-Script | 2016
      • Spreads
    • Beyond Here Is Nothing | 2017
      • Flip Through
      • Spreads
      • Reviews
        • Collector Daily
        • 1000 Words
        • L'Oeil de la Photographie
        • PHmuseum
        • Josef Chladek Book Shelf
        • Candid Magazine
        • Photomonitor
    • A Star in the Sea | 2019
      • Flip Through
      • Spreads
      • Reviews
        • Robert Dunn, PhotoBook Store Part 1
        • Robert Dunn, PhotoBook Store Part 2
    • A Star in the Sea - Box Set | 2019
      • Preview
  • Writing
    • Review: Guillaume Simoneau "Murder"
    • Review: Federico Clavarino "Hereafter"
    • Review: Carolle Benitah "Photos-Souvenirs"
    • Review: Valentina Abenavoli "Anaesthesia"
    • Review: Amak Mahmoodian "Shenasnameh"
    • Time Lightbox: The Night Mubarak Stepped Down
    • Review: Cyril Costilhes "Grand Circle Diego"
    • National Geographic: Portraits of Strength
  • Video
    • In The Shadow of the Pyramids
    • Beyond Here Is Nothing
    • A Conversation with Zahra
  • Exhibition Views
    • Nuit Blanche Brussels 2018
    • Breda Photo 2018
    • Prix Roger Pic 2018
    • Gulf Photo Plus 2018
    • Art Heritage Gallery 2017
    • SeenFifteen 2017
    • The Cube 2016
    • LCC Very Now 2016
    • The Photographer's Gallery 2016
    • Gulf Photo Plus 2015
    • FotoIstanbul 2014
    • BlueCoat 2013
  • Editorial Commissions
    • Afar
    • The New Yorker
    • Uncommon Guide Books
    • Thailand, 9 Days
  • Corporate Commissions
    • Istituto Italiano di Cultura - Paris, France
    • Novartis - Basel, Switzerland
    • Actes Sud Publishing House - Arles, France
    • Maison Européenne de la Photographie - Paris, France
    • Teatro La Fenice - Venice, Italy
    • Accor Hotels - Paris, France
  • Workshops
  • Bio & Contact
  • CV

All Images copyright © Laura El-Tantawy 2019. Site design © 2010-2019 Neon Sky Creative Media