Exhibition: Alexandra Kremer: Faces of Freedom

A brand new exhibition by the international artist Alexandra Kremer- Khomassouridze, will be launched in London at Asia House this month, exploring the relationship between identity, beauty and the inner faith.

Alexandra Kremer-Khomassouridze’s Faces of Freedom photographic series depicts 50 women from Azerbaijan, Russia, Iran, France, Georgia, England and the United States – ranging from different cultural backgrounds and professions – exploring their perception of identity in relation to freedom of choice.

The fascinating, monochrome, passport-style photos, which portray the women appearing first unveiled and then wearing a hijab, opens at Asia House on 3 February and runs as part of London’s second annual Buta Festival – a celebration of Azerbaijani arts and culture.

Kremer-Khomassouridze’s moving and intimate work, curated by Farah Pirieva, embraces the complexity of the issue of the veil, currently a hot topic of international debate and controversy.

In the artist’s own words: “No one left my studio the same. Our conversations had a lasting effect on each of the ladies, as well as myself. The complexity of the process was amazing. Some of my models, experiencing this for the first time, cried and preferred not to wear a hijab at all; some responded exactly the opposite, telling me that they would consider wearing it one day, others who entered the studio wearing a hijab refused to take it off.”

The international photographer, who left Azerbaijan in 1989, was inspired to capture the photographs upon returning to the country’s capital, Baku, in 2011.

“When I left Azerbaijan 22 years ago the hijab was in decline, particularly among younger women who preferred to wear jeans and mini skirts as a sign that they were embracing a new ideology of multiculturalism.