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WE ONLY SAID GOODBYE WITH WORDS
PHOTOGRAPHY: GOODBYE OLD JUMEIRAH BY MARYAM ALMARRI
CURATED BY: OLIVIA MORRIS
What started out as a passion project to preserve the memory of what Dubai’s Old Jumeirah holds to many, Maryam Almarri unknowingly created a phenomenon among the local community: to preserve what once was, while looking to the future. In this exclusive photo diary for GRAZIA, she explores one of Dubai’s most historic areas through the lens of ‘Goodbye Old Jumeirah’.
“Old Jumeirah is where I grew up, and where I live right now. It is so significant to me because I love the old architecture of houses with big trees and palm trees. I live in a one-floor renovated traditional villa with my family, and it is creating the same memories of childhood when I grew up in Jumeirah for myself – and now for my kids.”
“I like to explore what looks nostalgic to me. There is an easy pattern to follow, which is, for me, big trees means an old house. I love steel doors, blue windows, arches and elaborate design tiles.”
“The photos I take are to be beautifully preserved in time. It doesn’t bring specific memories to me as much as it gives me new memories of the houses right now. It is important to enjoy the beauty of Old Jumeirah as it is now.”
“Launching this project, I hoped to spread awareness and preserve Old Jumeirah by documenting those demolition sites – and it actually did. It’s helped to highlight the importance of those homes and areas.”
“Documenting graffiti-adorned walls is important. The graffiti is done on walls marked for demolition and if walls and homes could speak, I think it is what they would say. It’s giving those places a voice. A goodbye.”
“The concept of Goodbye Old Jumeirah is urgent because we are living in it now for the past eight to 10 years. But it is not a negative urgency, it’s a positive one. We are at peace with reminiscing and saying goodbye.”