This photograph is titled The Swing of Life. My aim was to illustrate the deep connection between a woman and a man, a relationship shaped by care and burden, intimacy and distance. The man swings from the flowing black dress of the woman above him. The clothing becomes the bridge between the two figures, soft yet unbreakable.
It’s a visual metaphor for how men, knowingly or not, often rest on the invisible emotional strength of women.
At first glance, it may seem playful, but beneath lies a quiet tension. The woman, still and composed, elevated yet grounded, but the man, bare-chested and vulnerable, depends entirely on the fabric that binds them. It’s a dance of power and reliance, reflecting the gender dynamics that quietly define our social structures.
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My work was seen as controversial. I was limited not only by physical space, but also by society’s gaze
In this way, the photograph invites reflection on how strength and softness coexist, and how one is often built on the other.
This work is part of my project Shades of Black, which marked the beginning of my artistic journey in 2017. It emerged from a need to question, express and resist the roles imposed on women in Moroccan society, particularly in its conservative spaces, from where I come. Each image is created as a narrative, a quiet act of resistance that speaks where words are silenced.
When I lived in Nador on the north coast of Morocco, my creativity was shaped by the constraints around me. I often shot alone, or with the help of my sister, on the rooftop of our home. Public spaces were inaccessible and my work was frequently seen as controversial. I was limited not only by physical space, but also by society’s gaze.
Moving to Marrakech, I experienced a shift and a sense of freedom. I gained access to outdoor locations, more open-minded collaborators and the ability to include male models. This allowed my work to expand while remaining rooted in the same themes that first pushed me to create.
This photograph is a direct result of that shift. It was taken in the middle of the desert, using an abandoned football goal as our frame, transforming a barren landscape into a scene that speaks of connection, dependence and the roles we inherit, carry or break away from.
Fatimazohra Serri works around themes of femininity, relationships and the challenges women face in conservative societies
