From Oman and based in Bahrain, photographer Eman Ali combines photography, text, sound, and installations to delve into the complex interplay between gender, religion, and socio-political ideologies in the Khaleeji culture. By using her practice as a means of social critique, observation, and investigation of the layered histories of the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa, Ali provides a unique and insightful perspective on the societal norms that often go unspoken. Her work invites us to consider the untold stories of our society and reflect on the systems that shape our experiences.

Her series, “The Earth Would Die If The Sun Stopped Kissing Her,” offers a tapestry of interwoven tales that investigate the evidence of human presence, our connections and sources, the relationship between nature and humanity, and the realization of the future. Throughout the project’s one-month duration, Ali engaged in a contemplative examination of her surroundings in Oman, oscillating between private interior spaces and the ordinariness of the everyday. The result is a collection of 100 images that highlight our human connection to the earth and to one another. It also delves into overarching themes of separation, death, the possibility of life beyond our planet, and searching for a higher power. The series showcases individuals from the region — artists, friends, and strangers she encounters — whom she celebrates for their beauty and singularity.

“The Earth Would Die If The Sun Stopped Kissing Her” is an intimate, diary-esque documentation of Ali’s daily experience that pays tribute to the land in which she lives. See more images from the project below.