Egyptian photographer and curator Farida Mahdy was inspired to document her grandmother's style after finding a collection of old photos. The project, titled Grandma and the Fur Coat, began in 2024 and features portraits of Mahdy and her grandmother, Ehsan Ouf, in Ouf's flat in Cairo.
Living Together and Sharing Stories
Mahdy lived with her grandmother for four years while studying photography. They spent hours chatting and watching TV on the couch, which became the setting for many photographs. In one image, Mahdy wears her grandmother's engagement dress from 1971, one of the few items Ouf still has from her youth. Ouf wears a fur coat gifted by her late husband, which Mahdy persuaded her not to sell.
A Stylish Past
According to Mahdy, Ouf dressed like a celebrity in the 1970s and 1980s, wearing brands like Chanel and Dior. She had a collection of wigs and even matched the color of her cigarettes to her outfits. Mahdy notes that her grandmother sometimes tries to convince her to wear a wig, secretly disliking her curly hair.
While living with Ouf, Mahdy discovered boxes of old photos. One favorite is a black-and-white photograph from Ouf's engagement day, taken by Mahdy's late grandfather. He died in 2000, two months after Mahdy was born, but they share a love of photography. Since his death, no one had photographed Ouf, so Mahdy wanted to continue his legacy.
Reflecting on Time and Change
After her grandfather's death, visits from family and friends dwindled, leaving Ouf's days quiet and sometimes lonely. The series serves as a tribute to her fashionable youth and reflects on the passing of time. Mahdy has started a second project, Ehsan, named after her grandmother, focusing on her current life as a 78-year-old woman aging gracefully.
Farida Mahdy is a photographer, assistant curator, and visual artist from Egypt. More of her work can be seen on Instagram at @faridamahdy.
