Unfinished

Beginning with the “Day of Revolt” on January 25, 2011, this revolution represents one of the most important movements of the “Arabic spring” and has been constantly re-ignited since then. Boukal travelled on the anniversaries of the event to Cairo to gather a picture of the situation on location. From a sheer endless inventory of official press photos, amateur photos and video stills distributed via social media as well as her own photographs, Boukal compiled a nearly seamless chronological compendium.

At the center of the work is the role of women in the Egyptian revolution. Women were the first ones to occupy Tahrir Square in Cairo. For the first time, they also protested side-by-side with men. Nonetheless, politics are now attempting to again limit women’s rights and their appearance in public. At the same time, sexual violence at demonstrations increased in an effort to force women from public space, while for the first time they defended themselves publicly and denounced the perpetrators. Boukal transcribes the photographic originals using a technique based on the satin stich technique. 

By visually highlighting particular women, she emphasizes their important role in Egypt’s development toward a democracy, which is far from over. Already in 2011, political scientists predicted an “unfinished revolution,” but changes in the social realm can no longer be stopped.