Mahtab Hussain

In August 2024, at a time when British cities were blighted by racist riots, Birmingham's Muslim community braced itself as rumours spread of a far-right rally.

- Matthew Maganga

Although the march never materialized, such fears were rooted in a dog whistle-laced political climate that had long fuelled incidents of racist violence. Set against this backdrop, Mahtab Hussain’s ‘What Did You Want to See?’ at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, presents a polyvocal examination of fear, hate and resistance centred within the British South Asian Muslim community to which the artist belongs. Through photographic, video and installation works, Hussain documents how community members have made space for themselves and their faith within their city whilst confronting the UK's stifling, racist landscape.