Untitled 1995

Houria Niati made this 'Untitled' drawing using colored pencils and graphite. Niati is an Algerian artist who has lived in London since the 1970s, and her work is characterized by its provocative interrogation of Western stereotypes of the Islamic world and the female body. This drawing’s apparent abstraction is belied by the presence of a nude figure. Niati has often used the visual codes of abstraction and figuration to explore the complex relationship between North Africa and the West. It could be argued that Niati's work serves as a critique of the Western gaze and the ways in which it objectifies and exoticizes the female body, particularly within the context of Islamic culture. Niati's use of drawing as a medium suggests an immediacy and directness that reflects the urgency of her political and social concerns. To understand this work further, we might look at the post-colonial history of Algeria, the rise of feminism in the late 20th century, and the role of art institutions in shaping cultural narratives.