Orientalism sword dancer

I have a shamshir-bladed karabela (saber) for which I have two ideas. I'm separating them to two projects to avoid confusion, especially as they are intentionally contrasting. The second concept is only tangentially historical. In art history, Orientalism primarily refers to a patronizing and often fetishizing/sensationalizing stance towards and depictions of Middle Eastern cultures, mainly but not exclusively in the 19th century. I personally take offense at the core concept, but a lot of the visual ideas are lovely and are an indelible part of art history. The core idea for the project is to overplay the sensationalizing/fetishizing part while still conveying that just as Morgianna from Ali Baba , the dancer might butcher the spectator when the dance ends. ---- Closing remarks ---- Aczel did a great job once again, and so did Szimonetta, the model. Orsolya once again helped out with styling, and unsurprisingly it turned out quite amazing. I'm seriously thinking about turning some of the photos into postcards to maximize the immersion into the late 19th- early 20th century vibe.

Participants