Geometric Patterns from the Middle East


FROM KOLAJ #24

Beya Khalifa
Cairo, Egypt

A collage by Cairo, Egypt’s Beya Khalifa is on the cover of Kolaj #24 and a portfolio of her work is in the issue. She confronts western notions of “Orientalism” by collaging historic Bedouin photographs with geometric patterns found throughout the Middle East. In other work, Khalifa employs the world beyond Earth’s atmosphere as a character in her stories.

This Artist Portfolio appeared in Kolaj #24. To see the entire issue, SUBSCRIBE to Kolaj Magazine or Get a Copy of the Issue.

Ruling elites in the Middle East employ Orientalism as a means of maintaining power and how Western countries use these representations as a means of domination and control.
Western artists are particularly complicit in this practice, going so far as establishing the Société des Peintres Orientalistes Français in 1893 specifically to promote such artwork.


This Artist Portfolio appeared in Kolaj #24. To see the entire issue, SUBSCRIBE to Kolaj Magazine or Get a Copy of the Issue.

Born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, Beya Khalifa “navigates the very loud metropolis in a state of perpetual fantasy”. When she is not making collage or daydreaming, you will find her with her nose in a book. Khalifa’s work has been published Artupon, Fubiz, Fstop, Flair Magazine, Cairo Gossip, and Collage Collective Co. Curator Bijjan Sadegh Shirvani included Khalifa’s collages in “Artummah” at East of West Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, 4 May-1 July 2018. See more of Khalifa’s work on Instagram.

Images (top to bottom):
from the “F*** Your Oppression” series
from the “F*** Your Oppression” series
Leap (6500×6500 pixels; digital collage on paper; 2016)