In Yasmine Nasser Diaz’s art, the bedroom is a medium for telling complex stories.
During the SFUSD school closure, we’re offering free weekday admission to youth and families. Learn more…
All Articles
Farah Al Qasimi’s debut video takes the form of a fake reality TV show.
Farah Al Qasimi’s video Um Al Naar (Mother of Fire) tells the story of a jinn (ghost or spirit) seeking community and belonging, and ultimately finding it on the dance floor. The artist took inspiration from an encounter in Dubai with a real-life exorcist:
He showed me videos of local zaars (exorcisms) and explained that although they are illegal, they are still performed in secret. The scenes include drumming, hysterical shaking, and group dancing. He explains the pixelated video we are watching: the jinn is jumping from one person to the next like a frog bouncing on lily pads, making its way throughout the crowded room. Everyone is participating in the fervent dance.
Brooklyn-based artist Farah Al Qasimi (b. 1991, Abu Dhabi) creates photographs and videos that capture daily life in the Persian Gulf and across the Arab diaspora, portraying her subjects in ways that challenge cultural assumptions and stereotypes.
Images: Installation views of four artworks by Farah Al Qasimi (b. 1991), from the exhibition Rave into the Future: Art in Motion, October 24, 2025–January 26, 2026. Photograph by Kevin Candland, © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
Photo of Farah Al Qasimi © Carolyne Loreé Teston
