PHOTOGRAPHERS TO KNOW: SIMRAH FARRUKH
SIMRAH FARRUKH
Simrah Farrukh is an American-Pakistani photographer based in the Bay Area. Her Muslim upbringing centered around acceptance and empathy is evident in the range of subjects across gender, sexuality, and physical appearance that appear in her mesmerizing photographs. Simrah’s body of work is an ode to the humanity and beauty of the South Asian community.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
SIMRAH FARRUKH: I am an American-Pakistani photographer based in the Bay Area.
SHEER: What led you to pursue photography as a creative outlet or did you try other forms of expression before finding your niche?
SF: Growing up, I was always painting or drawing, but it wasn't until 8th grade when I tried taking photos for the first time. Throughout high school and starting in college I began to see the importance of photography and its power to be thought-provoking.
SHEER: How would you say your upbringing and culture influence your work?
SF: Growing up in a Pakistani household means I have experienced and witnessed others experience the topics I often talk about in my work. As a Muslim, justice, empathy, love and accepting others has become ingrained in me. My work then pursues subjects of different genders, sexualities and skin tones.
SHEER: How do you choose the themes and subjects in your work?
SF: My work has more to do with humanity than it does with South Asian culture. The subjects are South Asian, but I want the focus to be on the experiences we go through. When the photo has a focus of fashion then I want to emphasize feelings the clothes create and what it says about their experience.
SHEER: What was the process for launching your first solo exhibit The Brown Gaze like? What inspired this exhibit?
SF: This past Fall of 2019, I was given an opportunity at my University to have a solo exhibition. My mentors and professors really believed that my work was strong, so I took it! It comprised of 50 photos and 1 video installation. My work these past 3 years have really been about reclaiming the gaze and taking control of our narratives as South Asians. Often times, South Asian stories are controlled by outside perspectives, leading to exploitation of Brown bodies and erasure of Brown voices. The Brown Gaze is a body of work that breaks down the stereotypical Bollywood façade and shows the complexities of South Asian identities. I curated my own exhibit within the gallery space and took about a 3 full days to print everything. It was a surreal moment for me because a handful of people who had been following me on Instagram for a while came to see the show.
SHEER: In what ways do you believe your photography is breaking barriers in South Asian female representation?
SF: My work is meant to create more space for South Asians, especially South Asian womxn. I think its creating more space for womxn to see themselves in art and feel empowered.
SHEER: What advice do you have for women of color artists carving our own lane through our work while navigating a world where we are often underrepresented?
SF: I'm still learning myself and think throughout my lifetime I will constantly be learning, but I think it's important to constantly push. We have to try harder than our white peers, but hopefully our efforts can make it easier for the young woc artists who come after us.
SHEER: What is the lasting impact you hope your art will have on the world?
SF: I would hope my work will continue to break barriers and help South Asians feel comfortable in themselves and their beauty.
