Exhibition Review

Abstract

The exhibit Dowry as a Form of Identity should be viewed by the western audience to gain a clearer understanding of the significance of dowry in the Middle East that breaks the general stereotypical understanding of dowry as bride-price (Anderson 2007), which, as this exhibition shows, holds true only in some parts of the world. The exhibition's title is metaphorical; the dowry loses its traditional 'ceremonial' dimensions to adopt new consumable configurations that highlight the social and expending behaviours of consumers and the flamboyance of wedding rituals within the community. Dowry as a Form of Identity questions the contradictory, yet fluid aspects of the ritual, which negotiate tradition and content, as it alters in context and meaning, through the passage of time. Subsequently, it morphs into an inherent hauler of affluence and power, constructing the consumer's identity and authority. Consumers negotiate, produce, transform and contest the ritual to legitimize their consuming and spending practices.