Mixed Up Messed Up?
For our series called 'Put Me In A Frame', we have asked contributors to take items of their choice, which speak to their identity. Take a picture of objects that represent you. Talk about it. Send it over. Essentially, we are constructing a self with our chosen material items and boxing them into a frame. What objects would you choose? How do you box yourself? Let’s discover…
Put Me In A Frame
"I wore an Indian sari for the first time at my friend's wedding. It was great wearing it because in the past my Mauritian Indian aunts banned me from wearing it out of fear that I would fall flat on my face...which I did...The Sega drum is the traditional music played by the Mauritian Creoles who were descendents of African slaves brought to the island by the Dutch colonisers in 1638. The songs represent the fight for freedom which is still a struggle in every society across the world. My attempts at the Sega dance are pretty embarrasing as your feet are not meant to move but the rest of your body is but I do love listening to the beats. The red Berber necklace I have worn to several Moroccan weddings where I enjoy dancing to the music. Unlike Sega dancing, Moroccan belly dancing you move more your hips which I personally find easier. The hand of Fatma decor is also from Morocco and is my protection against evil eyes.. And of course my good old PG tips which I can't live without. Wherever I travel to, these tea bags will always come with me. The Dodo is the famous bird from Mauritius which has been extinct for centuries but remains part of the island's heritage and looks cute. I have my good luck pearl necklace which I wear to every job interview and bought from my favourite shopping place and is missed every time I leave England..SELFRIDGES. All of these possessions are on a Berber Moroccan rug. The rug represents the flying carpet taking me to the next unknown destination."
"I've lived in eight countries and moved several times in the last three years and I always, always, take my Qur'an with an English translation with me, giving me a sense of peace; a jar of marmite - indispensable, because I really love Marmite and shells I've collected in the Maldives. I'm very much an ocean girl, I'm most at home near water. The shells are a part of Maldives which lives in any new home I make. Books have always been symbolic for me, reading them over and over again takes me back to the first moment they were in my hands and marks moments in my life. My mum brought us up with a lot English story books, poetry and songs. Even though she grew up in the Maldives and I spent my first nine years there, Maldivian education is saturated with English influences so Postman Pat is one of the earliest memories I have of children's stories. The same goes for Barbapapa, which ironically connected me and my German cousin, oceans apart, who I saw rarely but we both were obsessed and now it's a staple in my daughter's library. It's as if I want her to experience a part of a younger me through my favourite books. The chain belonged to my German grandmother, and the ring is from my mother. Material but timeless.
And the photo of the boat, that's my father's old Safari boat. My second home until I was 9. I'd miss school in large chunks to be with him on trips around Maldives with his guests. The boat is also symbolic for always being on the move, a feeling innate in me. A restlessness. "
From our contributors
"My passport is the most accurate representation of my identity. Its deep red cover and the words ‘United Kingdom’ embossed in gold remind me that the place I began my journey, is the place I call ‘home’. But each page that comes afterwards tells its own story in my odyssey to understand myself. The visas tell of my first trips to the continent from which my Mother set sail all those decades ago. Like her, I too have travelled far and wide and like my forefathers, I wander this Earth in search of a place to belong."
Iman Simon
Nora Fakim
"The traditional Moroccan cards on the table make up my age 29. Nutella is my favourite spread and I eat that anywhere I travel to. The mug with my name written on it is from Lebanon, one of my favourite countries in the Middle East. The book represents impossible journeys I want to do and China was an example of this. I read about China in Ibn Batouta's book at school. Ibn Batouta was a Moroccan traveller who walked from Morocco to China. I finally made it to China last year. Ibn Batouta was like me, Moroccan Berber and who loved to travel. The ticket Rif is from a famous cinema in Tangiers. The ticket above the book is from Alhambra town that has Moorish north African influences in southern Spain...my European Morocco... where I would be looking at from Tangier's, the city which changed my life before moving to England."
Jody Lan Castle
BBC Future Media Journalist, London
Youness Ait Malek
BBC Arabic Journalist, London
Aisha Simon
First Year Student at Oxford
"An amalgamation of essentials I have at uni. Doing this, I was actually quite surprised at how little I had with me that shows my German and Maldivian nationalities. What I do have could be owned by any tourist who has visited Berlin, except for my ID card. The possessions that represent my identity are inherent. "
Let me have no friends or companions, But a wine-flask and a book, That I may avoid all association With the deceitful denizens of the world. If I lift my skirt above the dust of the world I shall tower above all in total independence, Like a lofty cypress. - Hafez
"If I strip everything meaningful in my life down to the bare minimum, these few objects would mean the most to me. When I play the mandolin, I feel like my Dad, I try to play all his songs. I have added in the pencil and sketchbook because drawing is the only thing that can hold my attention. The Hafez book of sufi poetry represents my spirituality and inclination towards daydreaming. Finally the photos are of my parents, both Afghan, who are my biggest inspiration!"
Selsela Naweed
Researcher, London based NGO
Naila Missous
Journalist and translator, Manchester
"Wherever I am, I have a copy of the Quran with me. This specific copy was given to me by my mother and I used to keep it underneath my pillow for many years. It brings me solace to know that it is close by, whether in my room or handbag.
As I've gotten older, I've become a lot more aware of my religion also, hence the Tariq Ramadan book about the life of the Prophet. I mainly read these as a way for myself to understand religion and spirituality; never for anyone else.
I am a British born Algerian, and I will forever be proud of my Algerian roots. I have visited and stayed in Algeria since birth; to-ing and fro-ing between England and Algeria. I like to always have a book on the go that is in somewhere related to Algeria in order to always have that connection wherever I go. The derbouka was a small gift from a cousin in Algeria.
The Africa earrings were a headache to find - I always have ideas of jewellery I would like to wear but putting these ideas into reality can prove quite difficult. As you can imagine, finding these online (regardless of the hefty postage price) was one of the most exciting things I'd bought. I wear them regularly and always get asked about them. I suppose, as is with many things, people are judged by their appearances and I like to break down that stereotype of Africa and instead show off the diversity we have on the continent.
A pen to jot down notes at all times, and the keys that represent different corners of the globe I have visited.
The train tickets represent the constant travelling I take all throughout the UK: we have a great variety of people and I never fail to meet someone with an interesting story or background on all of my train journeys.
The passport is my ticket to the world."
Joshua Stone
Creative Director, New York
"My father is a fourth-generation American, with most of his roots in the UK and Italy. My mother is second-generation American, her blood being Syrian and Lebanese. That just means I look like a white guy but can grow a full beard in-between meals.My closest friends are Indian, White, Black, and of various religions. The longest relationship I’ve had was with a Mexican-American.Being a racially impure American isn’t unusual, but it does come with some quirks. For me, those have manifested in several ways:Despite being agnostic, I find myself sticking up for Muslims and other eastern religions because I feel like they’re just misunderstood. There is never enough couscous or pita bread I am almost exclusively attracted to women with dark, thick hair and olive skin. There is ALWAYS enough time for a quiet hookah bar and a nice baklava.So for my photo, I put out some items I find eclectic lifestyle. A keffiyeh, couscous, an old-ass watch that is likely fake and belonged to my jidu (grandfather), some heavily-scented candles and oils that makes my apartment smell like Beirut, lace-up boots that have been re-soled more times than I can count, a messenger bag for my laptop, books that have inspired and delighted, and my trusty NY Yankees hat."
"I bought the antique globe piggy bank when I was a child. I would day dream about the world and dreamt about wanting to see it first hand.
Elephants are my favourite animals as they look old and wise and they always seem to be smiling thus representing positivity. Their size contrasts with their gentle nature. I picked up this wooden elephant shown in the frame from a Karen Tribesman while trekking in Thailand.
Espresso capsules keep me running all day. I was given the Moroccan babouches by my host father for my future son. His wife gave me the bottle of kohl which was applied to my eyes in a show of female solidarity with all the female relatives gathered around me and prasing Prophet Mohammed. As they chanted, tears streamed down my face from the fiery ritual. Below the babouches is a nascent picture of my family taken in Hawai when I was about five years old.
Lying on top of the book is an antique silver Yad from Yemen (or Torah pointer). This was given to me before my Bat Mitzvah when I was thirteen years old. Bat Mitzvah is the ritual entrance to Jewish adulthood and has been an important part of helping me guide my life.
The painted glass heart paperweight represents the importance of art in order to understand reality.
The book reminds us that we create culture as culture creates us and food is culture that we create and in turn creates us."
Samantha Stein
Entrepreneur and MENA researcher, Washington DC
"Every Christmas Lebkuchen finds its way into my home, a taste of my childhood with an English-German mother. I take after my German grandmother who was rarely seen without a knitting needle or crochet hook to hand with my love of crafts and all things handmade. Twinings Earl Grey tea, a flavour of home that has travelled the world with me. I moved to Egypt at the age of 11, my parents decided it was time for my siblings and I to reconnect with our Egyptian heritage and improve our broken-Arabic. My British passport is filled with Cairo Airport entry stamps for the many times I flew back and forth between my two "homes". My father was unjustly exiled from Egypt for many years, I grew up very aware of the injustice faced by many Egyptians at the hands of the government. The 2011 revolution was the first time I felt any sort of pride in my Egyptian heritage. Fast forward to 2013, the Rabaa hand symbol serves my reminder of the struggles endured by those who refused to accept to live in indignity again. The postcard, based on the design of an Egyptian numberplate is an ode to the hundreds of hours I spent in Cairo's notorious traffic. I wear two rings almost every day; The first was handmade in a Cairo bazaar and has my favourite verse from the Quran engraved on it in Arabic "Verily with hardship comes ease" the second ring; custom made by a silver designer in Kent with part of a quote "...the years will take care of themselves" engraved on it in English. Marmite on toast - the perfect remedy for homesickness. In a strange way I feel most comfortable when in the sky or whilst wandering around airports. I collect boarding passes as reminders of the journeys I have undertaken. And finally my suitcase keys, on key rings that represent different phases in my life."
Buthaynah Fahmy
Video Editor, London
Jonathan McConnell
Cat and Curio, Rabat
"The objects are a mixture of a shark jaws post card, a Canadian maple leaf, a book of Dhimis, a book about a movie director, a baseball glove, an empty bottle of white whine and a cat called P9. All these objects represent/interest me or that people associate me with. I am a Candian movie director and live in Morocco. The book of Dhimis is about Jews and Christians who lived under Muslim rule. P9 the cat is my best friend who I found in the streets of Rabat. And yes I do love a good glass of white wine..hence the empty bottle."
Audrey Mazarin-Bartholet
Trainee Lawyer, London
"In this picture I squeezed together:
-My hard leather boots-My YSL Opium fragrance-the only ones I use at the moment-My stay ups to keep me warm in the cold weather-The must have smartphone to keep in touch with family and friends abroad and headphones to keep me company when on the go-Coconut oil from Martinique (part of my daily hair and skin care routine)- An empty can of beer for all the drinks I have shared with my friends-I always keep a good book and my notepad in my bag. I particularly enjoy going back on my copy of 'Watching the English' after a day packed with all sorts of misunderstandings! My Antilles knot necklace earrings-my everyday jewellery representing a knot that ties together the descendents of slaves in the Caribbean.
In this frame I want to show that I am so much more than this Black Caribbean female box I tick in all my forms. I use all of these items on a daily basis. Everyday I am French and from Martinique; masculine and feminine; digital and analogue; healthy and unhealthy etc...
I am not just a stereotype or a statistic. Sometimes even I find it hard to understand who I am. But I am proud to be all these things at once and I won't let go of any of it!"
David Lewis
BBC News Journalist, London
"For me food is the biggest representation of my identity. The piece of rugelach and the X-Mas dinner represents my appetite for my diverse upbringing. I believe that food is the most important thing that represents unity and love amongst people today."
Kamran Assadi
Journalist & Marketing Specialist, London
This unique frame of mine represents the most important facets of me and my mixed identity whilst also eluding to new identities I’ve acquired. In this frame, I have very important things that make my background.
There is the photo album I grew up with in my household in North London (Archway) – the album is opened out on the pages where there are images of my mum holding me as a baby and my dad holding me as a baby, spending their individual time bonding with me. My mother and father were married and deeply in love. Having me increased this bond and love between them and this was truly extended to me. There’s a sense of peace, happiness and calm in those pictures that gives my life and heart more depth than ever before. It reminds me of a happier time in all our lives before my mother and father split up. It also reminds me of my mixed heritage being of Caribbean (Montserrat) and Iranian ethnicity.
There is a photo of my dad which reminds me of how much we look alike and of my Iranian roots and my family over there. My mother’s Bible reminds me of her devout Christian roots and myself being brought up in the church. My dad’s Persian-English dictionary reminds me of his Muslim roots and my interest in getting to know that side of my culture. And the New Orleans Saints jersey is to represent my new love for American Football and my new American roots through my American wife and family. It also shows my passion for wanting to move to America.
The duvet cover background that each of these items lays on is my mother’s duvet cover from the house I spent my childhood in and is one of many possessions I have to remind me of her after she passed away 14 years ago.
