Veins: A series documenting 5 women and their dual identities in Europe

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Interviews by Clelia Paravento

"VEINS", a series by Sabrina Salem and Niko Giovannoni celebrating and documenting West Asian youth living in Western cities.

Last year, Salem and Giovannoni documented the lives of 5 girls: Saina, Taraneh, Alia, Deba and Aya, between Milan and London, and explored their feelings and thoughts of living with dual cultures and identities. With such negativity towards West Asian culture and it’s people in the West - the next generation have faith and hope that things will change.

The project is a representation of a specific generation that doesn’t want to hide anymore, a generation that wants to shout, sweetly but decisively, that “we are here too and that we are worth a lot” It is the union of history and future, a reportage transformed into a fashion editorial, which aims to express reality for what it is.

The imagery was made In partnership with 3EIB, a SWANA fashion marketplace representing independent designers from the region.

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Please introduce yourself, who you are, where you live, what you do in life...

I am Alia and I am a model. I was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. I lived there until I was six years old and then I moved to Qatar, lived there for another six years and since then I've been traveling back and forth. Since my parents divorced I've been to the U.S., Iceland, and Saudi Arabia...so I've been to a lot of places. I started modelling in early 2021 and - to be honest - it’s been a journey. Having this career and having the platform to represent people who are just like me feels extremely special and I feel like in this time and generation - especially the political climate - it's really important that I get to do that.

How did you start modelling? When did you realise you could do that?

I've always wanted to model. In middle school, I remember looking at fashion magazines and pictures on Pinterest of other models and I've always wanted to model but I just never thought it would be possible. Since I was little I've always been told I should be a model because I was pretty tall as a kid but I just never thought that it was possible. So I started looking for modeling agencies in Egypt. My current agency was one of them but I'd never thought that they would take me because they just seemed very established in my eyes. Then I managed to get the contact of one of Iman's sisters and to get an interview... and I guess the rest is history.

Did you ever struggle with your double nationality? Do you feel like you belong more to one culture or another?

My dad is Egyptian and my mom is Russian but they both live in Egypt. I would say I belong to both cultures, however, I feel like I don't really fit in either because I'm either too Egyptian to be Russian or too Russian to be Egyptian. Being mixed kinda gives you an identity crisis but I feel like - in a way - it feels special because you create your own sort of culture, you integrate the two and you just become your own person. I also feel like that makes you stand out from someone who resonates with just one culture or country. It’s both a curse and a blessing for sure.

How has your life been influenced by that, both in your childhood and now?

As a kid, no one really looks at the fact that you're mixed because that’s it - you are just a kid. However, in my country - in Egypt - you're definitely looked at differently because, in my case, I'm not just Egyptian, I’m also Russian and there is the stigma that if you are mixed with the West or with white people then you are considered superior or better in a way. Being mixed is not easy when you are a model as well, because there's a lot of very strong representation in demand and I feel like I can't represent just one country or culture because I'm both.

Have you ever had an identity crisis due to that? Have you ever struggled to understand who
you actually were?

I stopped thinking about what am I half and half of, and I learned to just belong to both. At the end of the day, that's who I am and I don’t really see it as a major factor in who I am as Alia, as a person. It just happens to be where I'm from.

How do you think people see Arab culture, especially in the West?

Well, I definitely think that Europeans have a superiority complex when it comes to the Arab world. We get treated like third-class citizens in Europe because for some reason they think they are better than us. Yet they try to steal our culture, our identity, our history and they don't give credit where it's due. They don't realize that fashion actually originated from the Middle East. Textiles, gold, jewelry, silver...all these things came from the Middle East, yet most Europeans still treat Arabs in a very degrading way and I see how they live in Europe... and it's not in the best way. Especially with what's happening now in Palestine, I see that racism has reached a level where it's justified and people are okay with it. For some reason racism and Islamophobia are now accepted. And that’s not fair.

Do you think that we - as young creatives - can change things? If yes, how?

In the creative field, I would say you can really change the narrative by putting more Arab models out there and establishing the Middle Eastern culture into the fashion world. If there is a strong representation of Arab culture, people will have no choice but to educate themselves and change their perspective. Fashion has become a huge thing and there are so many people interested in it. And when you have this many people feeding themselves into this field, then you have the power to choose what to show them. It's a slow progress for sure but I strongly believe that things will get better.

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Introduce yourself, in the way you prefer, who you are, what you do in life...

Hi, I'm Taraneh, I'm Persian, born and raised in Iran. I'm 25. I am a free soul, a sunny girl searching for herself and what she was brought here to earth for.
I moved to Italy, Milan in 2019. I do many things, music school, acting school, I work as a model/actress with a fashion and advertising agency, and I am a performer. Then if I don't have money, I'll even be a waitress! I've been living by myself since 4 years and it's not easy.

When you think about your homeland, what do you feel? What feelings come out?

But really the only thing I feel is that I miss him. I miss the streets, I miss my home, I miss my wonderful people with their hearts in their hands, always ready to help you, understand you, welcome you. I think that if the government changes I will go back to live there!

How did you deal with your dual nationality? How has your life been affected by this, both in your childhood and now?
Have you ever had an identity crisis because of this? Have you ever struggled to understand who you really were?

Honestly, after 5 years of living in Italy, just a month ago I went out on the balcony to smoke a cigarette, it was cold but I wanted to look at the sky because I realized that I hadn't looked at it for a long time. I got lost in this crazy silence, and my thoughts were: who am I?
Is Iran my home? I'm so different mentally and I no longer live there, I'm definitely not Italian because I'm simply not, so who am I? Then I realised, I'm from under the sky of God and under the sky of God is from me! So, I'm not from nowhere but I'm from everywhere! So yes, after 5 years I finally accepted Italy as my home, and the people of Italy as my people! I decided to love her like my people in Iran.

If you could say something to little Taraneh, what would you say to reassure her?

Little Taraneh is fine, she talked to me one day while I was doing a super deep meditation, and she told me that she is fine, she is safe and she loves me very much.

How do you think people view Arab/Middle Eastern culture, especially in the West?

So those informed, very well, those not informed badly, really badly. I would say thanks to TV and the wonderful social networks that show only wars, only problems with the hijab (which if they knew its value they would certainly remain silent), only chauvinism etc.

Crazy, the question everyone asks me as soon as they realize I'm Iranian is "but there men can marry 6/7 women right?!" I'm really tired of answering these (bullshit) questions.

Have you ever been afraid of showing your true identity to the public, of carrying forward your ideals? If so, how did you deal with it?

Sure for the first few years, but the moment I accepted myself as a Persian girl living in Italy and coming from one of the richest cultures in the world, everything started to change. If I first said I'm Iranian, people immediately told me, "ah, there's war there, right?" I felt bad. “Madonna, you were right to run away!” Others told me: “Wow, how beautiful, it's a beautiful country! Even the carpets!” Many certainly don't even know where Iran is.
It is very important what you think about yourself, because it changes people's point of view.

Do you think we, as young creatives, can change things? If yes, how?

Things are actually ruined from the roots, but they can certainly be improved a lot. First we must accept ourselves and be proud of who we really are, and then push hard in our creativity because we will certainly give something completely new to Western countries, what we create will always be different and always unique in the eyes of people because they have not experienced our reality and have no idea who we are and where we come from. That's where our strong point is, exactly where they say it's not good and make us feel humiliated, it's there! Then we show them who we really are, how interesting, spontaneous and particular we can be. And, perhaps, little by little people's mentality changes...
I hope so.

TOTAL LOOK HAND MADE ABAYA, HEADCHAIN STYLIST’S OWN

Please introduce yourself, tell us who you are, where you live, what you do in life...

I’m Saina Bidshahri, a visual artist born and raised in the vibrant cultural hub of Dubai, with roots tracing back to Iran. I’ve always been fueled by an endless curiosity for the human experience. When I owned my first camera at fifteen, I knew instantly that I wanted to capture the essence of the Middle East through the lens. The Middle East was my favourite subject. My muse. Now, I hope to document captivating stories with justice. My goal has always been to break down borders and invite viewers into a realm where beauty and culture intertwine.

When you think about your homeland, what do you feel?

I have always been caught between two homelands. The UAE is the place I grew up my whole life, and Iran is my sweet motherland. Iran is where I look back into my family’s history to understand my loved ones who have endured decades of wars, revolutions and conflicts. Although Dubai has given me a space to thrive individually, and creatively, Iran is where my soul belongs. It is the land of all my precious memories, adventures, and grandmother who I think of every single day.

How did you deal with your double nationality? How has your life been influenced by that, both in your childhood and now?

Although I was born in Dubai, I was never given a citizenship. So ultimately I was an Iranian expat in that city. Not treated as a local, but as an outsider, even though I knew all the corners to that city. My visits to Shiraz always reminded me that I’m also an outsider in my motherland - as I didn’t speak like the others, and I wasn’t fully immersed in how local Iranians lived there.

Being an outsider in both homelands definitely gave me an identity crisis growing up. I often asked myself “where do I belong?”. However, today I’ve managed to transform that by building a bridge between the two cultures. Forever moving from one, to another. Always reminded of my sense of self. I built that bridge through my photography, films and the communities I had the privilege of connecting with.

If you could say something to little Saina, what would you say to reassure her?

I would tell her that you have to go through exactly what you went through to become the person that you are today. I’m proud of you, and your little paintings. Don’t give up on searching for all the grace that the world has to offer. Always choose kindness over everything. I know that you grew up being the shy kid, who felt like she had no voice her whole life, but I promise you that you’ll eventually learn how to express yourself.

What do you think about your people? And how do you think people in the West see Arab culture?

I am eternally grateful for West Asian people around the world. Even though our region is constantly misunderstood by the West, they stay resilient. They amplify each other’s voices. Middle Eastern people have the most beautiful hospitality in my opinion, and treat strangers as a fellow brother or sister. I believe that the West constantly de-humanises our region. This perception really inspired me to create art for a better world. To show the rest of the world that this region is humane, precious and matters.

When you moved to Milan, did you ever feel somehow at fault, out of place?

The moment I stepped into Milan, I felt a big culture clash. I struggled finding people I resonated with in the beginning, and was constantly seeking for home. I also wasn’t sure if the creative industry was one that I resonated with over here. Although I felt lonely, and isolated from my own identity, it really pushed me to be outside of my comfort zone. The hardship of finding my place in this city definitely blossomed into something profound over-time. It’s currently my third year living here, and I can finally say I’ve built a home for myself. I have found some inspiring friends who have been not only a support system, but are also an absolute joy to be with. I finally found my favourite food spots that comfort me, and learned to make the most of what Milan has to offer. Good, and bad.

For the longest time, I felt that Milan didn’t accept me, but eventually I realised that all I needed to do was accept myself and everything started to build upwards from that realisation.

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Introduce yourself: who you are, where you live, what you do in life...

Hey I’m Aya, I’m 18 and I live in east London. I'm currently studying in hopes of doing journalism in the future.

When you think about your homeland, what do you feel? Which feelings come out?

Both my parents were born and raised in Algeria, so I have luckily been able to visit the homeland frequently. When I think of Algeria, I feel nostalgic, like I want to cry. I feel so at home there, most of my extended family still live there, so it evokes fond memories of when I visited them as a youth. I also feel immensely proud, Algeria is a beautiful country, with kind people and wonderful culture. We have years of complex history that make the Algerian people strong-minded and fierce. However, at times I feel angst because despite its beauty, the political climate back home is incredibly tense, which makes me worry for the future of my country.

How did you deal with your double nationality? How has your life been influenced by that, both in your childhood and now?

When I was younger, I was embarrassed of being Algerian. I wished to be European. I vividly remember hiding that I could read, write and speak in Arabic and only telling people that my second language was French. It seems like this is a universal experience among POC, as children we are often conditioned to internalize racism, causing us to hate ourselves. Now I look back at this mentality with shame, now I am so proud to be Algerian after learning more about myself and my ancestry. I’m so grateful that I am Algerian, as it allows me to communicate with a greater variety of people, as I was taught to speak Arabic from a young age.

Have you ever had an identity crisis due to that? Have you ever struggled in understanding who you actually were?

I wouldn’t say that I had an identity crisis as such because I feel like my parents always made sure that I knew my roots and how I got to where I was. But, I did struggle a lot with trying to fit in with everyone around me. Luckily, I live in a very diverse area of London which allows me to be surrounded by people from so many different backgrounds. But I didn’t have any North African or Algerian friends growing up since my family wasn’t part of a large community of that sort which made me feel very alone in my Algerian identity. As I grew up, I was able to meet more people with a similar background to me, which helped me discover a lot about myself and also made me feel less isolated.

If you could say something to little Aya, what would you say to reassure her?

If I could tell little Aya something, I would tell her not to care so much about things that don’t matter and to be unapologetically herself.

How do you think people see Arab culture, especially in the West?

I think Arab culture is presented negatively in the West, especially in the media. Whenever I hear about something concerning Arabs, it is negative. For years, we have been vilanized by the West, directly holding connotations to extremism, terrorism or being “undemocratic”. Arab culture is cherry picked, eating our food, using our alphabet in tattoos and using our cloth and tapestry. But, when it comes to standing up for the Arab people, the West is silent, even though, arguably, they are the root of many issues across North Africa and the Middle East.

Have you ever been afraid to show your real identity to the people? Or to carry your ideals forward? If yes, how did you deal with it?

I remember being told, at 12 years old, that my name would be less likely to be picked from a list of employees due to my last and first name being Arabic. When I was younger I felt the need to conceal my identity as an Arab. However, now I feel like it is something to be proud of, an identity to fight for. I feel like thinking about all the martyrs of the Algerian war for independence really helps me to carry myself. People fought for me to be who I am, so why should I conceal that?

Do you think that we - as young creatives - can change things? If yes, how?

I feel like young creatives have all the power to change the way we are perceived as a collective. This project, for example, personally changed the way I view myself. It was such a comforting feeling to speak to like- minded people and I believe that’s a precious experience. This can be applied not only on a personal scale, but for Arabs all over the world, sharing their experiences and feelings, connecting over heritage and ancestry. Moreover, creatives have the power to share these experiences with everyone, so people from all different backgrounds can have an insight into others’ viewpoints. I believe that empathy can change us all, and I do I believe that creatives have the ability to spread that.