Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Photography Centre, Room 101, The Sir Elton John and David Furnish Gallery

Untitled

Photograph
1995-2005 (photographed), 2010 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

For the last ten years, Syrian photographer Issa Touma has documented the Sufi procession of the Rifa'i brotherhood, 'the day of al-Ziyara', made in honour of the Sufi teacher Al-Sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Huwari. Sufism is a mystical order of Islam. Pilgrims visit the shrine of the Holy Marabout, bearing money and other gifts, and perform music, dance, song and mystical rituals where many are said to experience religious ecstasy. The culmination of the procession is the spectacle of the mortification of the flesh, which is considered an extreme act of faith.

As Touma became accepted by the group, his photographs began to reveal an increased intimacy. He placed himself at the heart of the activity and his subjects are often shown at close-range. Touma's use of the panoramic camera, and sometimes wide angle and 'fish eye' lenses, appropriately captures the size and energy of the crowd. Touma's series represents a sustained and mature photographic enquiry over many years and a rare insight into a religious and cultural event largely unknown outside of the area. More than simply a document, this series captures the fervour of the procession and its participants with a sympathetic visual style.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Titles
  • Untitled (generic title)
  • Sufis: The day of al-Ziyara (series title)
Materials and techniques
Gelatin silver print
Brief description
Photograph, from the series 'Sufis: The day of al-Ziyara', gelatin silver print, by Issa Touma, Syria, 1995-2005/2010
Physical description
A black and white photograph of a man holding a billowing flag over his head, surrounded by a crowd of people.
Dimensions
  • Paper height: 30cm
  • Paper width: 40cm
Gallery label
  • The day of al-Ziyara is an annual procession of Sufi pilgrims in northern Syria. Sufism is a mystical path within Islam. The celebration culminates with the spectacle of the mortification of the flesh, which is considered a profound act of faith. Touma photographed the event over the course of ten years, gradually gaining the trust of his subjects. He chose to use wide-angle and fish-eye lenses, as well as panoramic format prints. These devices help to convey his sense of immersion in the festival and capture the fervour of the worshippers. (Marta Weiss)(September 2012)
  • For ten years the Syrian photographer Issa Touma recorded a religious tradition – the Sufi procession of the Rifa’i brotherhood, ‘the day of al-Ziyara’. Many of his photographs are taken at close range, immersing the viewer in the spiritual energy of the ceremony. Pilgrims visit the shrine of the Sufi teacher Al-Sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Huwari, where they sing, dance and partake in mystical rituals, culminating in a self-inflicted wounding of the flesh to demonstrate devotion. Through his engagement with the community, Touma gained intimate insights into the ritual.(2022 - 2024)
  • For ten years the Syrian photographer Issa Touma recorded a religious tradition – the Sufi procession of the Rifa’i brotherhood, ‘the day of al-Ziyara’. Many of his photographs are taken at close range, immersing the viewer in the spiritual energy of the ceremony. Pilgrims visit the shrine of the Sufi teacher Al-Sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Huwari, where they sing, dance and partake in mystical rituals, culminating in a self-inflicted wounding of the flesh to demonstrate devotion. Through his engagement with the community, Touma gained intimate insights into the ritual.
Credit line
Art Fund Collection of Middle Eastern Photography at the V&A and the British Museum
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Summary
For the last ten years, Syrian photographer Issa Touma has documented the Sufi procession of the Rifa'i brotherhood, 'the day of al-Ziyara', made in honour of the Sufi teacher Al-Sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Huwari. Sufism is a mystical order of Islam. Pilgrims visit the shrine of the Holy Marabout, bearing money and other gifts, and perform music, dance, song and mystical rituals where many are said to experience religious ecstasy. The culmination of the procession is the spectacle of the mortification of the flesh, which is considered an extreme act of faith.

As Touma became accepted by the group, his photographs began to reveal an increased intimacy. He placed himself at the heart of the activity and his subjects are often shown at close-range. Touma's use of the panoramic camera, and sometimes wide angle and 'fish eye' lenses, appropriately captures the size and energy of the crowd. Touma's series represents a sustained and mature photographic enquiry over many years and a rare insight into a religious and cultural event largely unknown outside of the area. More than simply a document, this series captures the fervour of the procession and its participants with a sympathetic visual style.
Bibliographic reference
Light from the Middle East: New Photography
Collection
Accession number
E.71-2011

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Record createdJune 21, 2011
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