'There was a serious clash between two cultures that I had to bridge.'


After studying at separate schools and growing up in the insular environment of their villages, young Bedouin women are suddenly exposed to a completely unfamiliar culture when they enter Israeli higher education institutes. Throughout their studies, female Bedouin students are forced to live simultaneously in two different worlds: the tribal, patriarchal culture of their home life, where communal codes dominate; and the majority Jewish Israeli culture which prioritises individualism and free choice, and allows women greater prominence in public life. For Bedouin students, contradictions and conflicts between these two worldviews occur daily and form a confusing backdrop to their experiences.

This portrait straddles two contrasting backgrounds. On each side the portrait is drawn with the colours from the other side's background (white on red/black and black/red on white) emphasising Bedouin students' struggles to feel fully at home in either world.