Power Play is a series of work by Hasan and Husain Essop highlighting the multi-cultural clash between religion and popular cultures. We explore the dominating influence of Western theatrics and those narratives that are constructed to depict a certain reality. Inspired by Hollywood’s visual language and tactics, we create our own narratives. Each photograph reflects one another in a battle for the moral and immoral. Two dominant personalities appears, East and West with all its stereotypes. The environments we choose define our behavior, using it as a stage to perform.

Several characters may appear repeatedly as it is our own clothing being used. Our daily uniforms, some branded to its class. It becomes a tool for acting opportunities, adapting to their surroundings thus creating a variety of people. Those clothed in Islamic wear are aggressive but humble in their quest, popular fashion attacking our beliefs.

Creating a moment in time, a dream or something seen, we tell a story of growing up. Being competitive with each other is a constant battle for the best. We use our own iconology to provide a political context for the wars being fought. The viewer is able to translate these signs with there own understanding of the present, imagining the possibility of the work being true to nature. The images are a personal viewpoint that captures the growth and hunger for our art. Finding boundaries that we are able to test, debating the truth in our actions. A satirical thread stitched in its process, a designed layout demonstrating our knowledge for our reason.

As twin brothers, we have set out to find ourselves in each other, the similarities becomes interesting and exciting. Trying to create something new each time, a story unfolds and never ends.