Yesterday, a new gallery opened at Salhiya titled “It’s A Man’s World” by Shurooq Amin. Around 10 PM, Shurooq was asked to close down her gallery due to complaints from “people” who reached out to the authorities. She was later notified by the police that she must immediately shutdown her gallery. They accused her work of being “pornographic” in nature. Obviously, and quite possibly, these people have not yet seen “Hairy Euro Nurses 19″.
It is a sad day when mild social commentary becomes controversy. It is even sadder when some people see it as pornography. Really people? Have you no shame? Are you that inclined to label what you do not understand or disagree with as pornography or evil?
We are not sure exactly what caused the offense, or which piece/s were to blame for the uproar. Clearly, these people do not have access to the OSN Movie channel, nor have they ever went to a Kuwaiti play in Eid. I would extend an open invitation for them to survey some real pornographic material. I wont ruin the surprise, but it contains copious amounts of nudity and people being sexually engaged. Not that I oppose pornography, but hey, one step at a time.
I know I am preaching to the choir. I know most, if not all, of our readers think this is disgusting and we can only assume that who ever called the police is probably ashamed of looking at themselves naked, because you know, 3aib. So far, we’ve just ignored them for the most part and just treated them “3ala gad 3agilhum” as they say. But this has to stop.
For those of us who have no hang ups about sex, gender and controversy and you know, generally do not have a stick up our butt. We need to do something, anything.
So I propose the following: Please talk to your friends, your mom, your dad. Explain to them why this should not be an issue. Nobody expects you to change the way the whole country thinks, but please support this serious cause, starting with people you know. They probably have no idea why they have this opinion. I strongly believe that for the most part, merely stating what you have to say will probably convince them even when/if they disagree. Logic, its simple really.
As a side note, I do not know Shurooq personally. So I am not endorsing this because I am doing anyone a favor. Actually, and as a matter of fact, I did not enjoy or agree with some of her pieces for this gallery. For instance, I thought that the piece (found below) was misandric and discriminatory. But hey, thats what “I” think. THAT IS MY OPINION. I still support her 100% in showcasing her work, despite my opinion and wish her nothing but the best of luck.
Let us not be babies about this and lets try not to ban everything we do not agree with (wow so many negatives). Let us just grow up, man khalas, we are tired of this utter bullshit. Move on, get a hobby. Look at yourself naked. Check out Hairy Euro Nurses 19. Live and let live. Mala da3y dala3.
One of the pieces that was displayed last night.
Special thanks to @abrarshammari from ‘A Better Kuwait‘ blog, for posting about this last night and let us now.
Thank you for posting this and helping spread the word. The intellectuals of Kuwait MUST unite against this ignorance.
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I just want to make a correction in your post. Al M Gallery has been open for a while at Salhiya with many exhibitions by Kuwaiti artists. And I don’t think it is owned by Shurooq Amin she was just exhibiting her work there.
Thanks Haya. I actually was referring to her work as her gallery, I did not mean to infer that she owned it. Sorry for the confusion.
I stopped watching Hairy Euro Nurses at Hairy Euro Nurses 11, because it became too mainstream and rehashed after that.
“Censorship feeds the dirty mind more than the four-letter word itself.”
A long time friend, fellow poet and artist, as well as a gallery director in Switzerland, I have waited a long time to try and bring Shurooq’s works here. I had to hoped to do so this year but financial difficulties have made this impossible for such a large body of works.
I am more than disappointed that such a fine artist is censored in this way. I used to think that Kuwait was more open-minded that some countries in the region. I find this is not the case. It is truly sad that opinions can not be heard, whether in written, spoken or painted forms whether we agree or not – we should have the right and liberty to agree or disagree, or simply disregard comments which have no bearing on our way of thinking, but we should not be able to close an exhibition down because the artist expresses an opinion that is “disagreeable” to us.
Who are we to judge the value or correctness of another’s way of thinking? This type of closed minded attitude is what starts wars and kills thousands. Please reconsider this action. Reopen the gallery and let everyone choose for him/herself if the what the work has to say applies or not. Thank you.
I am doing a reserch paper about censorship in Kuwait, I looked at the paintings that Shurooq has created and I saw nothing but the truth in them. Yes the paintings might have been over the top and might not be somthing I personaly hang in my own home, but you see this is the problrm with our society we tend to run away from the truth. There are many people in Kuwait that drink alchoal but will dine it in public beuause they are ashemed. My question is, what is there to be ashmed of when you have made the choice. Our country helps pur people to have a dubble life and to be tow faced in everything. No one in this country can handle the truth, not even myself. On the other hand, that does not mean we should stop other to express themsleves in the best way fits them. Shurooq painitings are a refelection on how she sees our society, it doesnt matter if we agree with her or not, it is her opinion and choice. The problrm is that we leave in soicity that niether a opinion or the truth can be handled if it doesnt agree with thw other party. But hey this is what happens when you let the less civilised of the country behade of you. This is why Kuwait and will remain going backward and so will the Arab World. All I can say welcome to the “Arab Spring”.
sa7 elsanich nouf