Sarah Smahne: In Between

Sarah Smahane, Gathering Place, from the series In Between (2020 - ongoing) Archival pigment print, 40 x 30 cm. Courtesy of the Artist.

This text was translated from French and adapted here by Dalia Hashim.

This series is the result of idly sorting through old family photos and tapes one day, through which I found myself diving back into profound memories and listening to my parents’ own narrations of precious moments between France and Morocco. I had to do a long-distance census with my paternal and maternal family of the photographs that were not in my possession. In this way, this is also the story of the diaspora to which I belong—the voice that I carry for many people who can identify with it and who, too, had to make painful compromises and sacrifices. I pay tribute to their influences here, in my first and ongoing series, In Between.

Using Arabic, Latin, and Tifinagh letters handwritten in black ink is my way to express and embrace my plural selves. Handwriting and intertwining these letters on each photograph is a time-consuming process, which immerses me in personal memories of each scene. The writings form a sort of mashrabiya (a projecting oriel window), which preserve each photo from being fully revealed, preserving in turn essence and mystery simultaneously and compelling our eyes to try to see through the letters.

My artist name, Sarah Smahane, is significant. It is a strong manifestation of this reappropriation of my complete identity and a tribute to my personal history. This is my story and that of many, which I want to translate and spotlight, to carry like a banner, through this and future work. In Between is my auto-narration towards self- acceptance and the embrace of all my identities.

Sarah Smahane, Hay Retreat, from the series In Between (2020 - ongoing) Archival pigment print, 40 x 30 cm. Courtesy of t