Nefertiti : Ala Younis

15 Jan-27 Jan 2010

Overview

Produced and sold in Egypt after the 1952 revolution, the Nefertiti sewing machine was part of the Egyptian government’s attempt to nationalize the country’s industrial production, from domestic appliances to military warfare, and to create productive symbols of Egyptian sovereignty. The curvaceous machine was introduced to Egyptian homes with the intention of empowering women while keeping them at home, during times of war. It suffered significant design flaws, which contributed to the decline of its popularity among Egyptian households. As it failed to compete with imported models, the production of Nefertiti machines was eventually discontinued, shortly after the death of Gamal Abdel Nasser. Ala Younis’s video installation features two of the original machines, displayed on white pedestals, in a museum-like style, which recalls the scenery of archaeological displays. The accompanying 12-minute video narrates the history of the sewing machine, the personal accounts of those who used it, and reflects on the hopes and aspirations of Egypt and the Arab world, in the heyday of the independence.