Arwa Abouon
| Arwa Abouon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982 (age 34–35) Tripoli, Libya |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | Bachelors of Fine Arts |
| Alma mater | Concordia University |
| Known for | Photography |
| Website | arwaabouon |
Arwa Abouon (born 1982) is a Libyan-Canadian photographer known for exploring the experience of living in the borderland between two different cultures. A graduate of Concordia University, her work has been internationally recognized for its direct examination of the balance between Islam and Western culture.
Abouon was born in Tripoli, Libya in 1982 and is of Amazigh descent. She immigrated to Canada with her family in 1983 in response to recruitment of young men by the Muammar Gaddafi regime. Her father, Mustafa Muhammad Abouon (1940-2013), feared for the safety of his sons.
Abouon studied at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec where she majored in design art and obtained a bachelor of fine arts, with distinction, in 2007.
Abouon's work draws heavily on her experience as an Islamic woman living in the West. Incorporating traditional Islamic customs, clothing and icons alongside symbols of Western cultural, her photos explore the realities of living at the intersection of two cultures. Abouon's pieces often feature autobiographical material, including members of her family, which is used to visually express an inner longing for balance with the external world. Her work has drawn attention for its direct examination of the relationship between Islam and the female gender. She explains that: "My ultimate aim is to sculpt a finer appreciation of the Islamic culture by shifting the focus from political issues to a poetic celebration of the faith's foundations."
Abouon's work has been displayed internationally at galleries in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, and Middle East. Her diptych Mirror Mirror, Allah Allah won second prize at the 26th annual Alexandra Biennale for Mediterranean Countries Award in 2014. Valerie Behiery notes that the piece, which shows reflections of Abouon dressed in a veil and without, provides commentary with "deliberate visual simplicity and humour".
Abouon lives and works in Montreal.
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