©Abeer Sultan, photo taken by the artist
Imagined Perpetual Past
ماضٍ دائم التخيل
Two-channel Projection, silkscreen, naturally dyed textile, clay
07:17 mins, colour, with audio
‘Tales of Nostalgia’ Misk Art Institute, 2022.
Imagined Perpetual Past investigates undocumented women's folklore music in Saudi Arabia, which was conceived as a sonic archive that maps regional sounds and inspires filmmakers. During her research, Sultan met Tara Al Dughaither, who introduced her to the Sawtasura archival project. This encounter shifted Sultan's focus to uncovering the hidden layers of women’s musical histories, where sound evokes collective memories and resonance across generations.
Despite technological advances, women’s folkloric music remains undocumented mainly,
teetering on the brink of forgetfulness. This realisation sparked questions about reimagining these women's spaces, leading Sultan to compile family photographs and internet archives. A pivotal moment arose when Tara mentioned the folklore singer Sara Uthman, whose legacy was documented in a 1970s interview by the researcher Kay Campbell: “She's a singer for the people,
a revered songstress who thrives on the intimate rapport she establishes with her audience.”
In a serendipitous twist, Uthman was the singer for Sultan’s parents' wedding.
Uthman’s words, “I don’t want them to forget me,” echo in the process of making the installation. Imagined Perpetual Past features a two-channel projection of a Medini bride dressed by Al Nasasa, a specialist in traditional attire. Sultan recreates private wedding ceremonies on the West Coast through this work. She uses ants as a metaphor for knowledge passed down subtly, exploring the ghostly remnants of female history in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to preserve
what remains.
Song credit
Safiya Al Shetawi, Saudi folklore musician.
'Tales of Nostalgia' at Misk Art Institute.
References Sawt Asura (A musical platform dedicatied to archiving the muscial history in the Arab and Gulf Region led by Tara Aldughaither): https://sawtasura.org/
Despite technological advances, women’s folkloric music remains undocumented mainly,
teetering on the brink of forgetfulness. This realisation sparked questions about reimagining these women's spaces, leading Sultan to compile family photographs and internet archives. A pivotal moment arose when Tara mentioned the folklore singer Sara Uthman, whose legacy was documented in a 1970s interview by the researcher Kay Campbell: “She's a singer for the people,
a revered songstress who thrives on the intimate rapport she establishes with her audience.”
In a serendipitous twist, Uthman was the singer for Sultan’s parents' wedding.
Uthman’s words, “I don’t want them to forget me,” echo in the process of making the installation. Imagined Perpetual Past features a two-channel projection of a Medini bride dressed by Al Nasasa, a specialist in traditional attire. Sultan recreates private wedding ceremonies on the West Coast through this work. She uses ants as a metaphor for knowledge passed down subtly, exploring the ghostly remnants of female history in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to preserve
what remains.
Song credit
Safiya Al Shetawi, Saudi folklore musician.
'Tales of Nostalgia' at Misk Art Institute.
References Sawt Asura (A musical platform dedicatied to archiving the muscial history in the Arab and Gulf Region led by Tara Aldughaither): https://sawtasura.org/