The Light House
Review:
​
People often consider it to be an artist’s job to stir. To provoke a thought that gently cradles traditional beliefs and ushers them to evolve into something bigger.
Aabidah achieved this, and how! Her work was personal, raw, and diverse. It captured an essence of truth too long denied.
The exhibition she held at the Lighthouse in Wolverhampton, displayed a lion's portion of courage. It covers her own personal story with the #metoo movement. The photographs were stand alone, not hidden behind a frame, demanding full attention. Each portrait was accompanied with snippets of stories, an emotional confrontation of their personal situation.
In the second gallery, the pictures were blown up, creating a light onto self-love. Diversity was celebrated with each photograph hatching a thought: there’s no one way to be beautiful.
All the photographs were bright, brimming with hope and joy. The lighting in the pictures reflects a new dawn, reassuring anyone who views it, things only get better.
The display was inspiring and hopeful. It was a wonderful evening, and I would recommend this deep, moving exhibition to anyone.
By Hiyah Zaidi
Review:
Wolverhampton University Student Aabidah Shah Stands Resolute in the Wolves Women’s Day 2020 Exhibition
Marking International Women’s Day Review
​
At the Light House Cinema, in the heart of the city of Wolverhampton, an exhibition, hosted by Lotus Sanctuary, who aims to houses and empower vulnerable women, celebrates the work of female artists of Wolverhampton and surrounding areas. Photographer, Aabidah Shah features in a multitude of exhibits that articulate and embrace the vulnerability and strength of women.
​
Shah’s Me Too 2018 exhibit is constructed to overcome us with the courage and fortitude of women. The project is related to the #metoo movement. The exhibit lists a series of statements by women, survivors of sexual abuse rising up, this exhibition allows for a platform for their voices to rejoice. Displayed with a compelling and defining pink plaques engraved with their testimonies are pronounced alongside a collection of portraits of women intimidatingly confronting us. At the same time, holding their individualised #metoo signs, displayed above us underlining their importance and voice of assurance and validation.
​
Nearby, Shah exhibits her latest advocate of women through her photographic portraits of people of all colours, ethnicities, religions, genders, and backgrounds. People Are Beautiful 2019’s photographs are tightly exhibited collectively and complementary to the beauty of the people she has photographed comfortably with the red and purple intersecting each other flawlessly, enchanting their appearance with delightful contrast through the chooses of the display.
​
On the top floor of the Lighthouse, Shah exhibits a final set of photographs of another project named Think Positive Be Positive 2019 (You Are Enough Just As You Are). It is about people living and studying in Wolverhampton; this is embellished in the display as the portraits reside assertively on the wall, taking it up. It matters that when entering the top floor of the exhibition, confronted with Shah’s photographs as it separates and introduces a new presence in the exhibition, focuses on the attention of the female artists' creativity and ingenuity. It is a responsive exhibit of emotion, enlarged and hung noticeably on the wall when entering a new chapter in the exhibition, fulfilling Collectivism presentation of equality, the multi-disciplinary exhibition of work of all female artists.
​
​By Matthew Hark
