Date Viewed: October 24
Location: Balboa Park, San Diego
Artist: Fazal Sheikh
Title: “Beloved Daughters”
This was a series of black and white portraits by Fazal Sheikh. I didn’t do any research into this series beforehand, and so I was caught completely off guard when I arrived. The title “Beloved Daughters” turned out to be an ironic statement about the mistreatment of women in India, and it wasn’t a subject I was expecting to find. The portraits of the women and girls were shot with the subjects facing the camera, forcing viewers to stare back into the eyes of these unfortunate people. It’s as if they’re challenging us to do something about the horrible conditions these women are subjected to every day. There are no smiles. Some of the girls look strong and fearless, while others look passive and accepting. And the photos are only half the story- each image was accompanied by the subject’s story, including gruesome details about their lives. There were tales of rape, abduction, abandonment, physical and mental abuse. I gazed at the scarred face of “Priti,” sixteen years old, whose family was relocated to the slums, and who cares for her family after having to abandon her education. There was also a collection of photographs taken where the women had their backs to the camera. These look particularly vulnerable, and also symbolize how their society has turned its back on women. Of all the exhibits I have visited this semester, “Beloved Daughters” was by far the most educational, the most evocative, because I left feeling saddened and disturbed at what human beings are willing to do to eachother.
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