Presented in partnership with the Ryerson Image Centre, Alia Youssef will present her talk "Can I have a say in this narrative" at the Ryerson Image Centre - 33 Gould St. Toronto - March 14, 6PM
Youssef will discuss the representation of Muslim women from pre-9/11 to present in western media. Specifically, the role of Muslim women in that narrative, and the steps Muslim women are now taking to change that image through artistic collaboration. She will focus on her involvement in the 2017 Muslim Girl x Getty photography campaign and her personal photographic, video, and text series titled The Sisters Project. The series counters negative stereotypes of Muslim women by showcasing the inspiring stories of women across Canada.
This talk is presented in conjunction with Collaboration: A Potential History of Photography, an exhibition and collaborative laboratory currently on view at the Ryerson Image Centre. Collaboration is accompanied by an active and extensive program of special events - all of which are free and open to the public. The events are curated by Ilana Shamoon with Christine McLean. For all event listings visit ryersonimagecentre.ca/exhibition/collaborate
Alia Youssef is a Toronto-based artist and graduate of Ryerson University’s photography program (BFA with distinction). Her work focuses on visual storytelling through photography and video. Alia is the founder of The Sisters Project, a portrait series that aims to humanize and diversify the narrative of Muslim women. A network of supporters have rallied around her project and its mission. Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, invited Alia Youssef to witness Malala Yousafzai’s honorary citizenship ceremony in 2017. Additionally, Youssef was flown to New York City as the photographer for the 2017 Muslim Girl and Getty Images collaboration, a project which intended to flood the web with positive images of Muslim women. Youssef’s work has also been published by The Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, Refinery29, Buzzfeed, and many more online and print media. Most recently, Youssef was a recipient of Combating Hate, Advancing Inclusion award and had her work exhibited at the Parliament of Canada (Ottawa), Aga Khan Museum (Toronto), and Nuit Blanche (Toronto). Youssef is currently working on a project titled, Stay for Tea, which questions the role of sisterhood in contemporary western society and is also working to grow the scope of The Sisters Project by taking a cross-Canada trip in the summer of 2018.
