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Body as Resistance
Body as Resistance
March 9, 2026
© Yumna Al-Arashi: I Am Whoever You Want Me to Be, 2018, from the series I Am Who I Am Who I Am
In Body as Resistance, Al-Arashi (b. 1988, Washington, D.C.) uses a variety of media – photography, books, and sculpture – to speak out against the oppression and stereotyping of women she is observing worldwide. The exhibition – which spans more than a decade of work – shines a light on the representation of the Arab world, examines the legacy of colonialism in our thinking, and reflects on nearly lost matriarchal traditions. The artist moves effortlessly between modes of expression: her work is at times playful and provocative, at other times poetic, angry or defiant – or, most often, everything at once.
Yumna Al-Arashi began her career as a self-taught documentary photographer, contributing to publications such as National Geographic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. However, she found herself conflicted about the power held by image-makers like herself, who were in a position to present their subjects in a one-sided way – be it intentionally or unintentionally. This, in turn, made her pursue a more political and conceptual approach.
The women in Al-Arashi’s photographs are depicted as strong and resilient, emphasising their beauty. The artist, too, does not hide behind the camera, but reveals herself in conceptual self-portraits. In doing so, she short-circuits the power dynamic between photographer and subject, and asserts that her body is a key component of the political conversation she seeks to cultivate.
Katrin UllmannYumna Al-Arashi began her career as a self-taught documentary photographer, contributing to publications such as National Geographic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. However, she found herself conflicted about the power held by image-makers like herself, who were in a position to present their subjects in a one-sided way – be it intentionally or unintentionally. This, in turn, made her pursue a more political and conceptual approach.
The women in Al-Arashi’s photographs are depicted as strong and resilient, emphasising their beauty. The artist, too, does not hide behind the camera, but reveals herself in conceptual self-portraits. In doing so, she short-circuits the power dynamic between photographer and subject, and asserts that her body is a key component of the political conversation she seeks to cultivate.
© Yumna Al-Arashi: I Am Whoever You Want Me to Be, 2018, from the series I Am Who I Am Who I Am
© Yumna Al-Arashi: Axis of Evil I, 2020, from the series Axis of Evil
© Yumna Al-Arashi: Northern Yemen I, 2013, from the series Northern Yemen (2013–2014)
© Yumna Al-Arashi: Northern Yemen II, 2013, from the series Northern Yemen (2013–2014)
© Yumna Al-Arashi: Untitled, 2020