All the Feels 2023

Curator: Joana Choumali’s large-scale work, titled "All the Feels," uses thread on printed canvas to explore themes of identity and emotion. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the contrast between the photographic realism of the figure and the almost visceral texture of the thread. Curator: Choumali is deeply interested in how personal and collective histories shape identity, and she often layers embroidery onto her photographs to add layers of meaning. This work addresses feelings of displacement. Editor: The thread dangling like severed limbs gives the image a disturbing, almost ghostly quality. It disrupts the reading of the body and the image, doesn't it? Curator: Yes, and that disruption is intentional. It reflects on the social fragmentation and emotional wounds prevalent in many post-colonial societies. The museum context also reframes the conversation about identity. Editor: I see your point. It is interesting how that simple use of the thread reframes the entire piece. Curator: Indeed, it’s a powerful statement about the intersection of personal and political narratives. Editor: A poignant reflection on the impact of societal forces on individual experience.