We will meet again in paradise is a visual exploration of the intimate bonds and shared struggles of Black Muslim women in Sweden. The project, at its core, serves as a testament to hope and a community that transcends the boundaries of time and life itself. The series is based on the concepts of resistance and endurance, fostered through the strength of sisterhood and friendship.
The title, We will meet again in paradise, reflects a love that surpasses all earthly challenges. For those navigating the margins of society, paradise is not merely a future promise, but a present reality found in the sanctuary of each other’s company. Through this project, the personal struggle is reframed as a shared journey, asserting that our sisterhood is our unbound by time and a space of absolute belonging and transcendent love.
The portraits and the accompanying elements of the work center the people and places that have shaped my identity. The first works of the project are portraits of my friends and my younger sisters draped in floor-length, pristine white veils, jilbaabs, contrasting with the brown autumn leaves that mark the passage of time. The photographs are taken at Vattenlekplatsen in Rosengård where I grew up, a place that holds deep personal and communal significance where I have gathered with my family to perform the Eid prayer throughout my life.
Ikram Abdulkadir
Ikram Abdulkadir (b. 1995, Nairobi) is a Swedish-Somali photographer and multi- disciplinary artist based in Malmö, Sweden. Abdulkadir works within a documentary photographic tradition, capturing life in urban and domestic environments. Her work often focuses on individuals close to her in familiar settings, exploring themes of care and community through visual and artistic expression. Abdulkadir’s works are included in collections such as Moderna Museet, Rencontres Arles, and Fotografiska.
