Inside Out: Photo Series

For the past five years, I have been documenting the chairs and sofas found in the outdoor garden spaces of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates with my mobile phone.

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My focus is on the variety and types of indoor furniture that has been repurposed for use by live-in gardeners and laborers who work for the villa families. After their work is done for the day, many of them come out to enjoy the peace and privacy of the garden spaces in the late evenings. The once-forgotten chairs and sofas transform into characters, playing a key role in the social dynamics of the neighborhood after dark.

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While taking daily/nightly walks with my dog Harley through the neighborhood, I have witnessed these garden ‘sculptures’ change and evolve over the years. Their shifting presence mirrors the often-invisible life cycle of the gardeners and laborers, who also come and go, contributing to the ever-changing fabric of life in the UAE.