MAHA MALLUH

Maha Malluh is an experimental artist from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. In her work she explores the issues and challenges that come with the modern world in which we live, some particularly relevant to her personal/regional culture.

Amongst Malluh’s large portfolio of work there is the experimentation and exploration into photograms. A photogram is ”an early turn of the century photographic technique invented by Fox Talbot, which captures a photographic image without the use of a camera, by exposing photo-sensitive paper directly to a light source. The arrangement of objects interrupting the passage of light determines the photogram’s appearance.”

In her series of works using the photogram technique, Malluh explores ”how objects define us” and humans and also to ”tell the story of the little things in life which are priceless and give us joy.” Aside of this Malluh’s photogram works also present the changes that have occurred within her culture over recent decades and how traditional things are becoming modernised. A quote from Malluh herself in which she refers to this topic is that ”When an object can no longer operate as was originally intended, a new function through adaptice re-use can be the only way to preserve the heritage of its significance”

Here are some examples of the photogram work which Malluh has executed…

Visually I believe that within this collection of work the strong contrast between the white subjects and the black backgrounds gives the images a haunting feeling but really vividly shows the message and idea that Malluh wishes to present.

Also here is a link to a YouTube video in which Malluh’s development and life as an artist is explored…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkrmtoRuqoQ