{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1223716"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1223716/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FG1330/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2012FG1330/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2012FG1330","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/Issa Touma","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1223716","accessionNumber":"E.64-2011","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Untitled","type":"generic title"},{"title":"Sufis: The day of al-Ziyara","type":"series title"}],"summaryDescription":"For the last ten years, Syrian photographer Issa Touma has documented the Sufi procession of the Rifa'i brotherhood, 'the day of al-Ziyara', made in honour of the Sufi teacher Al-Sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Huwari. Sufism is a mystical order of Islam. Pilgrims visit the shrine of the Holy Marabout, bearing money and other gifts, and perform music, dance, song and mystical rituals where many are said to experience religious ecstasy. The culmination of the procession is the spectacle of the mortification of the flesh, which is considered an extreme act of faith. \r\n\r\nAs Touma became accepted by the group, his photographs began to reveal an increased intimacy. He placed himself at the heart of the activity and his subjects are often shown at close-range. Touma's use of the panoramic camera, and sometimes wide angle and 'fish eye' lenses, appropriately captures the size and energy of the crowd. Touma's series represents a sustained and mature photographic enquiry over many years and a rare insight into a religious and cultural event largely unknown outside of the area. More than simply a document, this series captures the fervour of the procession and its participants with a sympathetic visual style.","physicalDescription":"Black and white photograph of a procession with men carrying flag standards adorned with hand-stitched prayers and topped with metalwork symbols.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Touma, Issa","id":"A39853"},"association":{"text":"photographer","id":"x43821"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gelatin silver process","id":"AAT139114"},{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Gelatin silver print","categories":[{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"},{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2012FG1330"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLC","id":"THES49171"},"free":"","case":"MB2H","shelf":"DR","box":"2"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"photograph","id":"AAT46300"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Syria","id":"x29200"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1995-2005","earliest":"1995-01-01","latest":"2005-12-31"},"association":{"text":"photographed","id":"x30151"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"2010","earliest":"2010-01-01","latest":"2010-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":"Printed in 2010 from the original negative"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Art Fund Collection of Middle Eastern Photography at the V&A and the British Museum","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"30","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"paper","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"40","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"paper","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photograph, from the series 'Sufis: The day of al-Ziyara', gelatin silver print, by Issa Touma, Syria, 1995-2005/2010","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Light from the Middle East: New Photography","id":"AUTH321423"},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Syria","id":"x29200"}],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"Festival","id":"V1004"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Sufism","id":"AAT155124"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"The day of al-Ziyara is an annual procession of Sufi pilgrims in northern Syria. Sufism is a mystical path within Islam. The celebration culminates with the spectacle of the mortification of the flesh, which is considered a profound act of faith. Touma photographed the event over the course of ten years, gradually gaining the trust of his subjects. He chose to use wide-angle and fish-eye lenses, as well as panoramic format prints. These devices help to convey his sense of immersion in the festival and capture the fervour of the worshippers. \n\n(Marta Weiss)","date":{"text":"September 2012","earliest":"2012-09-01","latest":"2012-09-30"}},{"text":"For ten years the Syrian photographer Issa Touma recorded a religious tradition – the Sufi procession of the Rifa’i brotherhood, ‘the day of al-Ziyara’. Many of his photographs are taken at close range, immersing the viewer in the spiritual energy of the ceremony. Pilgrims visit the shrine of the Sufi teacher Al-Sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Huwari, where they sing, dance and partake in mystical rituals, culminating in a self-inflicted wounding of the flesh to demonstrate devotion. Through his engagement with the community, Touma gained intimate insights into the ritual.","date":{"text":"2022 - 2024","earliest":"2022-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}},{"text":"For ten years the Syrian photographer Issa Touma recorded a religious tradition – the Sufi procession of the Rifa’i brotherhood, ‘the day of al-Ziyara’. Many of his photographs are taken at close range, immersing the viewer in the spiritual energy of the ceremony. Pilgrims visit the shrine of the Sufi teacher Al-Sheikh Abou Bakr Al-Huwari, where they sing, dance and partake in mystical rituals, culminating in a self-inflicted wounding of the flesh to demonstrate devotion. Through his engagement with the community, Touma gained intimate insights into the ritual.","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["E.64-2011"],"accessionNumberNum":"64","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2011,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-11","recordCreationDate":"2011-06-22","availableToBook":false}}