Intimate photographs. Illustrated highlights of traditional women's bathrooms from the Arab world

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – A sneaky speech sounds between the walls, accompanied by the cool water, which falls on bodies covered only with red fabrics that hang loosely on their bodies. These are scenes that we often see in the eyes of the West. But what does this traditional bathroom scene embody for women of the Arab world? Photographer Yemna al-Arshi answers this question.

Shortly after the election of Donald Trump to the US presidency, Yemeni-American photographer Yarmi al-Arshi was upset because she feared that the ban imposed by Trump on Muslims to enter in the United States prevents family members from entering the country and felt "angry". What the West considers as Muslims.

Shortly after the elections, she was offered a new project as part of the ASOS Supports Talent initiative launched by the British Fashion Fashion brand (ASOS) to encourage young creative talent. Thus, the project "Shedding Skin", which shows Arab women in traditional bathrooms, is born with new eyes, because it aims to put an end to the stereotype that shows them as oppressed.

In an interview in Arabic with CNN, Al-Arshi, who lives in London, spoke about the inspiration of his project. "This picture of oriental women in Hammamet is one of the images we see so much in the history of art. In museums, they are still made by a Westerner."

Working on images familiar to women in Hammamet, the photographer wanted to "seduce" the American public with something beautiful. But soon, the public enters the showroom, surprised by a short film of 8 minutes showing the same images. But the film is accompanied by a "strong" commentary of the voice of the photographer herself, who speaks of "the injustice that confront women like me".

Through his project, the Yemeni caricature manipulates the concepts of Orientalism, a term coined by the Palestinian thinker, the American citizen Edward Said. "The word is intrinsically linked to the colonial representation of all, with the exception of the settlers themselves," she said.

This project is a call by Al-Arshi to "restore our own spaces", which have been painted orientalist by the Western world.

"I have tried by all means to respect the obligation to satisfy you," he said, echoing the stereotypical image of the western man of the world's women Arab. Altui because I can not break. "

Regarding what these baths symbolize for the women of the Arab world, Al-Arashi said that these places are "sacred, which are healing spaces, and that the meeting is a community that takes care of itself and l & # 39; 39, another also ".

The photographer stated that the women sitting in front of the camera were familiar with her work and agreed to "position themselves openly".

"At the moment, this place is my home, and I simply suspend my clothes to sneak in," she said, adding, "The motto of clothing and beauty It's not acceptable, and I feel free. "

When I close her voice, "I'm looking for that layer of darkness that slips off my skin and I wonder: do you really see a difference between me and you?"