Bullet #5 2014

Lalla Essaydi created ‘Bullet #5’ to reflect on cultural expectations and personal identity within the framework of Islamic tradition. Essaydi, who was born in Morocco and educated in the West, uses photography to challenge orientalist stereotypes of women in the Arab world. The photograph depicts a woman reclining in what appears to be a harem setting, her skin and surroundings covered in Arabic calligraphy made of bullet casings. The casings themselves create a beautiful, yet dangerous, visual texture. In Islam, calligraphy is traditionally a male pursuit, and the harem is a space of confinement and mystery. Essaydi reclaims both, layering the photograph with complex narratives about gender, power, and cultural identity. She asks us to consider the gaze—who is looking, and what are they seeing? The model's direct gaze challenges the viewer, inviting us to question our assumptions about women in Islamic societies. Essaydi’s photograph is a powerful statement about the complexities of identity, tradition, and the ongoing dialogue between the East and West.