Um Al Naar (Mother of Fire)
- Artist: Farah Al Qasimi
- Date: 2019
- Medium: Video, high definition, projection, colour and sound (stereo)
- Dimensions: duration: 42min, 8sec
- Museum: Tate Modern
- Collection record: Tate Modern website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Um Al Naar (Mother of Fire)” by Farah Al Qasimi. It’s a 42‑minute high‑definition video that you’ll see projected in front of you. Think of it as a spoof reality‑TV episode set in the United Arab Emirates, with a jinn named Um Al Naar as the star. The jinn is a spirit from Islamic folklore, and Al Qasimi uses her as a mouth‑piece for critiquing colonial history and gender politics in the Gulf. She flips the usual horror‑comedy tropes: instead of terrifying audiences, she plays up hysteria, curiosity, and the desire to express yourself. The film blends interviews, found footage of exorcisms, and shots of everyday life in the Emirates, all layered with colourful, theatrical décor that’s a nod to the artist’s photographic style. Through the jinn’s confession, the piece asks what it means to hold onto ancient power when modernity reshapes belief. It ends on a dance‑filled, upbeat note, celebrating women’s voices and bodily expression.
See it in person
Um Al Naar (Mother of Fire) is in the collection of Tate Modern on Bankside, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
