To get Her FOREVER

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project © András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project © András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project View all images ↓
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  • Dates
    2015 - 2021
  • Author
  • Topics Social Issues, Contemporary Issues, Documentary
  • Location Indonesia, Indonesia

Among the still-living, maternal-centered societies, the most populous ethnicity is the Indonesian Minangkabau. I have signed a lifelong contract with one of Them on 16 July 2016.

Initially, I wanted to present an unknown matriarchal society, which I began to recognize through my wife. I was intrigued by how it could have remained undocumented and why the mainstream media never picked it up. The answer is simple: the most populous matriarchy in the world is Muslim!

As a photographer, it was motivating enough to immerse myself in this subject, already as a part of it. So I photograph the life of my wife and myself as a kind of diary, while I deal with my own changes, through questions such as, what it means to be Muslim, how my life has changed being a husband, and how we are preparing for having children, and so on.

/While preparing my series, I am interested in the chances and opportunities of a Muslim family in today’s Hungary, and at the same time, the difficulties we encounter. In addition to my photos, I use the family archive and scanned versions of documents (e.g. Hungarian and Indonesian marriage certificates, protocols of our interviews with the Hungarian Immigration Office, etc.) which are key administrative elements in our lives to tell the story.

The series of photographs deals with contemporary social issues such as immigration and emigration, the start of newlyweds and the expectation of a baby; xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, Western hypocrisy, etc., all through my personal experience./

Based between the capital cities and our hometowns in Indonesia (Jakarta and Padang) and Hungary (Budapest and Sárvár), we have lost the true meaning of home, but at the same time we have started creating one. The project stores the photos from our transition period (2015-2021.), where faith, identity, habits, and expectations challenged us to set our own future goals.

Just our lives TO GET HER FOREVER ©2021. Fisel Anggela and András Polgár

The work was supported by the József Pécsi Photography Grant and the Ministry of Culture and Education, Hungary in 2019.

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
i

01_My first communion. I was raised as a Christian, even if my Family isn’t really religious, by time I had questions regarding my own religion. (archive photo) /around 1996 Hegyfalu, Hungary. In our family house/

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
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02_Celebration of Idul fitri (end of the month of Ramadan). Fisel, my Wife even in her own Family could learn being in the community and togetherness due to that She has 7 siblings. (archive photo) /around 2007 Padang, Indonesia. The Parents’ family house/

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
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03_After Fisel could move to Hungary, we have married in 16 July 2016. in Sárvár, in my hometown. 2 and a half year later (it was my preparation time to embrace Islam and convert, parallel we also started to save an amount for our future) we have celebrated our Nikah, our Islam religious wedding, where my Parents could also participate and finally the two Families could meet. /6 January 2019 Padang, Indonesia. The Parents’ family house/

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
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04_Beside our Nikah, we have also celebrated our wedding in the traditional Minangkabau style. Fisel wore the crown during the reception, which is the traditional symbol of the Minangkabau matriarchal system in West-Sumatra. /6 January 2019 Padang, Indonesia. Kyriad Bumiminang hotel/

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
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05_My Father-in-law, Deswizal bin Pingai has passed away 19. July 2020. My Wife and me are reading surah Ya-Sin for Him every evening for remembrance. /2020 Budapest, Hungary. In our rented apartment/

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
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06_By accepting Islam in the month of Ramadan, in May 2018. I have freed myself from my worries and burdens and I started to feel mature. My life is more balanced, structured and I carefully put attention to the moral standards. /2019 Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Arabia hotel/

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
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07_Our Family is in transition as we are growing and soon, Inshallah we are going to be 3 of us in May 2021. We are getting ready for some change, for example for the responsibility to be Mother and Father. /2021 Budapest, Hungary. In our rented apartment/

© András Polgár - Image from the To get Her FOREVER photography project
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08_We are preparing for the arrival of Aminah Polgár, a little lady, who is going to be the fruit of our marriage. The fact of Her gender is predicting our future, as we are following the matriarchal system. /2021 Budapest, Hungary. In our rented apartment/

To get Her FOREVER by András Polgár

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