The word harem comes from the Arabian 'haram', meaning 'forbidden'. Later, it came to mean 'protected' and 'reserved'. There is much imaginative speculation about the life of women in the harems of the oriental rulers and was a source of great fascination in the west.

Ketabchi refers to traditional Qajar images of odalisques and draws inspiration from Persian miniatures, then she incorporates sly erotic references. Costumes, masks and props form a mixture of contemporary and historical elements. Using metaphors to express the forbidden is Ketabchi's strategy to address 'taboos' that 'only fire the imagination on young people of our society' says Ketabchi. The glossy pictures have a brown tinge making them look like old photographs, where this idea is made completely absurd with props such as leather bras and fluffy ear muffs. At first, one can see a portrait in the style of old masters like a History portrait then an ironic touch is introduced making the Harem series a place of masquerade and imagination.

In addition to the Harem images, Ketabchi draws inspiration from the Persian miniatures which she uses to mix together contemporary and historical elements.

The 10 pieces exhibition probe both the image of the seductive Oriental women and the image of the woman as powerless victim and take taboos such as sexuality, desire and female body as their themes.

Coming directly from the Museum fur Neue Art in Freiburg, Germany where they were part of the exhibition 'Iran.com', and from the Biennale in Los Angeles, it is with pride that we welcome Afshan Ketabchi in Dubai.