Zaynab Ghaïs-Mortada explores the notion of “impermanence” – something that she expresses through photographs, installations, collages and drawings. Her introspective, delicate artwork documents the daily existence of living entities. Zaynab Ghaïs-Mortada’s photo assemblages combine bodies with elements of greenery, particularly plants, which are central to her artistic practise. The artist pays particular attention to what bodies can reveal, through wear and tear or the texture of their skin.

Ilal abad إلى الأبد (Forever and Ever) is a sensitive, poetic exploration of intimacy as it relates to places, objects, people and stories, which are of particular interest to her. Zaynab Ghaïs-Mortada dwells on the politics of how her images are used – in other words, she reflects on the ethics of sharing and circulating them. The significance of the images that are central to her practise – personal objects, plants, familiar places – are somewhat obscure. The artist chooses not to explain or justify her choices. While their meaning isn’t obvious, they do hint at the message(s) she wants to convey.

Zaynab Ghaïs-Mortada’s projects include a number of collages created with photos shot by the artist over the past 16 years. In addition to creating art, Zaynab Ghaïs-Mortada works as an agriculturist and is a researcher at Institut F, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes Muslim women in Quebec. She is also affiliated with the McGill Department of Philosophy where she researches the phenomenology of racism and epistemic violence as it relates to Quebec.