Portrait of An Artist As Their Mother

By: Zaym Zarif School of Design
Master of Design Photography
This project is a tribute to my mum, who I have always
admired. She is now my source of motivation, inspiration, style advice, and everything else you can think of.
Some people might wonder why I use sunglasses in my
portraits. Have you ever worn a piece of jewellery that
instantly transformed you? Sunglasses are a necessity
for me. Even though it might sound obvious, I feel like
I can be anybody I want to be when I put on a pair of
sunglasses. It acts as a mask that enables me to create
a different perception of myself.
“I dream of a mirror. I see myself with a mask, or I see
in the mirror somebody who is me but whom I do not
recognize as myself.”
Jorge Luis Borges, 1985
I can say that I am inspired by artists like Claude Cahun
who experimented with make-up, clothing, masks,
and wigs to intensify their vision. Or Cindy Sherman
who explored different identities and personae using
clothing, hair, and make-up to inhabit familiar roles
with remarkable conviction. For me, sunglasses serve a
similar purpose. They allow me to push the boundaries
of who I can be and explore new ways of expressing
myself.