YOU LOOK LIKE A... 2016-2017


You Look Like a..., invited young bearded men of Arabic appearance to pose as subjects. These men were of predominantly Arabic ancestries, although some are Anglo-Australian, Italian, Persian and Spanish. They all wore beards, not as a religious requirement or for political allegiance but rather as an unintended style choice. The project was motivated by a remark made by the artist's parents (who are Lebanese Australians) to her two brothers, Kristan and Matthew: "shave your beards off you look like terrorists". 

The series was accompanied by a second work where the artist digitally wears the beards of each of the men. This masquerade recalls Ana Mendieta's Facial Hair Transplant images from 1972. Both sets of images ask questions of appearance and the ways in which we appear to others and assumptions about race and gender.

Read Terrorist or Hipster: what does a beard mean? 

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Kristan
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Kristan
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Matthew
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Matthew
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Rami
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Rami
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Jason
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Jason
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Luis
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Luis
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Thomas
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Thomas
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Mac
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Mac
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Ahmed
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Ahmed
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Mark
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Mark
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Bruno
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Bruno
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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George
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With George
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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Mark M
66cm (W) x 100cm (H)
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With Mark M
40cm (W) x 60cm (H)
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