SWEET DREAMS and WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH? have toured extensively around the country - (see Past Events Page). If you are interested in having them exhibited at your event, or would like them in your gallery, please get in touch: christineart@btinternet.com
For more information and images about Sweet Dreams see:
SWEET DREAMS - An art exhibition portraying females who wear the niqab sharing their dreams and interests.
SWEET DREAMS was exhibited in Liverpool, where it was supported by the Cornerstone Art Gallery as part of the City’s European City of Culture and Independent Biennial Celebrations.
The Exhibition consists of 24 large format photographs professionally
framed with accompanying biographies and is available for hire. (Terms and conditions apply).
SWEET DREAMS IS CITED IN:
Marten, V., N. (2010) Accounting for Islamophobia as a British Muslim: The centrality of the ‘extra-discursive’ in the discursive practices of Islamophobia. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Manchester Metropolitan University, Department of Psychology, for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2006, pp. 309-311.
COMMENTS:
In Britain, the pejorative stereotype of the veiled woman – the mohajabeh – connotes chauvinism and oppression. The popular culture view, which is informed loosely by liberal and post-modern notions, is more well-meaning, but is as little informed about the lives of Muslim women and comes to the same conclusion – Islam is a patriarchal religion that immutably subordinates women, and veiling is a particularly oppressive consequence of this. The counter-discourse of the mohajabeh speaks of empowerment; here, women are understood as choosing to veil for political or religious reasons and their choice is wholly personal and developed after careful consideration. In Sweet Dreams, Christine Dawson takes the stereotype of the veiled woman – loaded as it is with highly charged emotions and assumptions of docility, submission, and oppression – and presents veiling as unremarkable, deeply personal, and idiosyncratic. Working with a number of young women who wear the niqab, Christine Dawson photographs them doing ordinary every day activities; she also elicits from each a short narrative comprising a self-description, one funny moment, and their ‘sweet’ dream. Thus, in the exhibition the two-dimensional photographs are given ‘life’ and a persona through the accompanying narrative.
Dr. Vera Martin
"Christine Dawson's work highlights issues that require not only interfaith/inter cultural dialogues, but also intra-faith and intra-cultural dialogue which is missing in the Muslim Communities."
Anjum Anwar MBE - Dialogue Development Officer Blackburn Cathedral
"Christine Dawson's work highlights issues that require not only interfaith/inter cultural dialogues, but also intra-faith and intra-cultural dialogue which is missing in the Muslim Communities."
"Christine Dawson's work highlights issues that require not only interfaith/inter cultural dialogues, but also intra-faith and intra-cultural dialogue which is missing in the Muslim Communities."
Anjum Anwar MBE - Dialogue Development Officer Blackburn Cathedral
Anjum Anwar MBE - Dialogue Development Officer Blackburn Cathedral
In this exhibition, the image and the accompanying comment seemed to me
two complementary dimensions of the same art work. The comments read
like a diary of dreams where the images were a glimpse into those
dreams.
My favourite was the young lady in the car. I could see through the eyes a positive energy, a sense of confidence and a creative ability to journey between the modern and the traditional. This image, like several others in the Sweet Dreams Exhibition, struck me as powerfully deconstructing the reductive discourse on women in the veil which is often visually aided by images which represent Muslim women in alien societies, walking in their veils in the midst of powerlessness, poverty and despair.
Dr. Shuruq Naguib, Lecturer, Dept of Religious Studies, Lancaster University
Just wanted to respond to your latest exhibition 'Sweet Dreams'.
I found the exhibition really uplifting. The photographs you had taken were both sensitive and fun! That's quite an achievement in itself. The snippets of information about each person that collaborated with you didn't intrude into these images ... rather they added another layer .. one that was very welcome. The whole show raised a smile to my face and a feeling of real relevance to us all.
I did have trouble spotting your introductory panel, though. That was perhaps more to do with the layout of the gallery. I was drawn past it and straight to your wonderful images. I would have liked that to be a bit bigger (and lower ... because of new 'varifocal' lenses) ... It was good to see what has spurred you on with your vision and, serious though the whole issue of pre-conception, separateness and prejudice is, your work did not tumble into the worthy but not interesting and intriguing to view and to contemplate.
Congratulations, Christine, on another really thoughtful and positive body of work. Where to next? I'm sure you are building on this already.
Sue Ashworth, Project Manager, Lancashire Museums.
Christine Dawson's work has challenged successfully the often negative
images portrayed by the media of the Muslim communities throughout the
UK. This informative, creative and educational project has portrayed
positive messages to all who experience the work. Through the activities
set out by this project, diverse communities of the Northwest have come
together to meet each other and share ideas for future partnerships
I found that the work challenged my prejudices and I hope this valuable work instils this in others.
Euan Smith
Arts Development Officer
Lancaster City Council
Cultural Services
"My name is Sabeen Akhund and I have been part of the project and Christine's life ever since Sweet Dreams went from a dream into a reality. I have seen Christine put her heart and soul into the project and on the opening night her efforts were definitely very much apparent. The project itself is actually a very simple and innocent idea however leaves the viewer reflective and also in a strange way refreshed. The exhibition not only makes a person challenge his or her own perceptions in relation to people who look 'unconventional' but also puts a smile on the face as the viewer is left feeling reassured that he or she does not need to fear difference in our society but just let it be how it is and accept it. From the feedback I heard on the opening night I definitely feel that the exhibition is something that opened up a lot of hearts, minds and eyes and will leave a lasting impression in all of those parts of the body for a long time to come"
Sabeen Akhund, Secretary, Federation of Student Islamic Societies. (F.O.S.I.S.)
I thought that the exhibition was inspirational and extremely original. The quality and variety of the images is stunning, and the written extracts of the children's voices added an excellent additional element to the visual representations.
Angela Gibson, Cumbria Ethnic Minority and Traveller Support Service, County Coordinator
“I have watched Christine’s perseverance to enter and become accepted by our local Muslim community, which at times meant facing rejection and suspicion, but then finally being welcomed with great joy. Her work has always been inspired by injustice, often that faced by women, and with ‘Sweet Dreams’ Christine has engaged with the topical subject of women wearing the niqab. I have personally found that her work has opened my mind and attitude towards women who choose to wear the niqab, and believe her work is important in bringing understanding of and about a group within our society that finds itself under threat.
Communication is sometimes referred to as the art of relationship, but Christine communicates by making relationship the heart of her art.”
Fr Hugh Pollok
Lancaster University Chaplaincy Centre.
The Chaplaincy Centre at Lancaster University has a history of being at the 'cutting edge' of Interfaith work but over recent years we have fallen a little behind, perhaps resting on our past achievements. This exhibition has placed us back at the forefront of addressing issues of faith and life, enabling us to explore our perceptions of identity from our different faith perspectives.
Christine Dawson, in only a few weeks, is already having a tremendous impact as our Artist in Residence at the Chaplaincy Centre.
Rev. Steve Charman
Methodist Chaplain
University of Lancaster
& The University of Cumbria
