Bullet Revisited #40 2013

Lalla Essaydi’s "Bullet Revisited #40" is a photograph that looks like a painting, draped in shimmering gold. The image comes out of a process of layering and arranging, a kind of visual construction that reminds me of artmaking as a process. Look closely at the surface. It’s covered in tiny bullet casings, metallic and reflective. They’re arranged in patterns that recall traditional Islamic art, but the material shifts our understanding. The use of bullets to create beauty, creates a tension in the image. The woman, adorned in similar metallic fabrics, is part of this construction. The layers of fabric and metal create a rich, almost overwhelming, visual experience. There’s a kind of opulence, but it’s undercut by the underlying violence of the materials. Essaydi's work speaks to artists like El Anatsui, who transform found materials into works of art. Both explore themes of history, culture, and identity through the act of repurposing. Ultimately, this photograph invites us to consider the complex relationship between beauty and violence, tradition and modernity, in an ongoing dialogue.