Filwa Nazer
Born 1972, Swansea, United Kingdom 
Lives and works in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
 

Five Women embodies the tension between private and public identities, capturing a moment of transition in Saudi Arabian society through the sculptural arrangement of materials. Blending fabrics generally used for the lining or unseen components of women’s garments, with industrialised mesh and netting, Nazer evokes the subtle shifts experienced in navigating between inner lives and exterior environments.

Nazer studied fashion and design and uses the conceptual and technical skills of patterning — and complementary processes of creation and deconstruction — to reflect the stories of five different women. The women, identified only by their initials, shared specific memories tied to an item of clothing they wore at a formative moment in their lives, which Nazer then recreated as a sculptural form. As personal expressions of vulnerability, each of the forms resonates deeply with the societal changes in Nazer’s homeland — one aspect of which has been increased access to public life for women. Balancing strength and fragility, Nazer captures a moment of passage that is both personal and collective, celebrating women’s resilience and ability to evolve in the face of change.