AMIRA SHARIFF
Anthropomorphic State

04.05.24 - 25.05.24

Solo Exhibition
Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg

I am a fine art photographer who explores the theme of identity in the search of self discovery in relation to the world. Most of my life my biracial identity and upbringing made others make me feel displaced as to where I belong. Growing up people constantly felt the need to place me for their own comfort as though I was not human enough in their form to be relatable but had human attributes. Hence the title of this work ‘anthropomorphic.’ My work combines abstract elements and representation, exploring the relationship between form, colour, and emotion. Using the process of braking up images and layering different images to form one. These images aim to create a sense of depth and complexity. Where it invites the viewer to look beneath the surface of my work to discover the emotional and psychological layers that are hidden there. I use long exposures and intentional camera movement. My goal is to evoke a sense of wonder and to encourage others to see the world around them in new and different ways. My work is about relating to the feeling of displacement; feeling as though you are not human enough for the world and thus being in a constant state of re-imagining and re-identifying our relationship to ourselves and the world around us. My own experiences inspire my image. They are a reflection of my relationship to the world around me, layered with ambiguities that are part of the my human experience. They are an invitation to the viewer to reflect on their own layers of self. In some ways to make the viewer feel confused or discomforted by what they are seeing unable to form placement of what they see.

By definition anthropomorphic is described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes. It is the state of giving non human entities, human characteristic, behaviours and traits. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Often seen in religious texts, cartoons, and stories like that of Mickey Mouse.