MY FRIEND
Construction laborers, car wash attendants, grocery delivery drivers. Faces we see every day in Dubai, yet remain unknown. Taxi operators, sanitation workers, building custodians, all given the same moniker – my friend.
We cast a nod, a smile, or a fleeting gaze to acknowledge their presence, but often we are too consumed by our thoughts or technology to truly see them.
They are the unseen forces, the unsung heroes, the nameless individuals who keep the wheels turning in the background.
In this collaborative photo series of twenty-four plates, I delve into the complexities of transient bonds and ephemeral friendships experienced by foreign workers in Dubai.
In the moment of taking the photograph, I point the camera at them and they point back the flash at me. With both our faces covered by accouterments, the fleeting engagement with my friend is sealed on film.
Amazon delivery friend
Grocery bagger friend
Airport worker friend
Car washer friend
Taxi driver friend
Construction worker friend
Building cleaner friend
Government worker friend
Subway crew friend
Chicken stand friend
Grocery delivery friend
Cart pusher friend
Fastfood worker friend
Street sweeper friend
Delivery rider friend
Food cart vendor friend
Mall worker friend
Ladies salon worker friend
Beach cleaner friend
Building cleaner friend
Labor camp friend
Construction laborer friend