An iconic image of Mariah Idrissi, the first British Muslim model to wear a hijab, has been sun bleached onto plant leaves that are native to former British colonies.

In 2015, Mariah Idrissi became 'the face of modest fashion' during an H&M ad campaign where she was pictured wearing a traditional hijab. The image caused a viral sensation. 

This photographic print was made by the sun's natural bleaching of the chlorophyll in the plant leaf. It is part of Almudena Romero's series Growing Concerns. In each work, the history of migration and colonialism is explored through the origins of the plant leaves. The series alludes to migration in modern day Britain and the legacy of its colonialism and plant trade. 

You can here more about Alumdena and her work in our interview with her here. 

Accolades
Almudena Romero has had three solo shows and been included in many international exhibitions including: Victoria and Albert Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Exchange, Tate Britain, The Photographers’ Gallery, Tsinghua University Art Museum, the Whitechapel Gallery, Le Cent-Quatre Paris, University of the Arts London and Unseen Amsterdam.

She has a degree in Photojournalism from the University of Montreal as well as an MA in Photography and Art from the University of the Arts London.

She has won numerous awards and grants across the world including form the Arts Council and The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards. 

She has received public installation commissions from Team London Bridge, Southwark Council, Emergency Exit Artist, Wellcome Trust and University College London, Bow Arts Trust and London Festival of Architecture.

Her work has been published in Photomonitor, Radio France Internationale, TimeOut, DUST magazine, EXTRA magazine, FOMU, Foto Museum and many more.