What Did You Want To See?

What Did You Want To See? is a major body of work examining visibility, surveillance and the politics of looking in contemporary Britain.

Developed through sustained research into the architectural and social presence of mosques across the United Kingdom, the project considers how Muslim communities are seen, mis-seen and constructed within public imagination. Through large-scale photographic works, moving image and spatial intervention, Hussain challenges inherited narratives that shape Muslim representation.

The title poses a direct question to the viewer. It unsettles expectation and invites reflection: what were you anticipating, and why? Rather than offering explanation or apology, the work asserts presence. It centres dignity, scale and civic belonging, repositioning Muslim life as embedded within the architectural and cultural fabric of Britain.

Presented as a major solo exhibition at Ikon Gallery in 2025, the project received significant national and international press attention. The exhibition was awarded a five star review in The Guardian and was described in Frieze as a “polyvocal examination” of fear, resistance and civic space, positioning the show among the most compelling photographic exhibitions of the year. Coverage across leading arts publications recognised the exhibition’s intellectual rigour, visual authority and emotional force.

Project commissioned by Ikon Gallery and Photoworks

The Guardian ★★★★★ – “…powerful and formally commanding.”
Frieze – “polyvocal examination of fear, hate and resistance.”
1000 Words – “…layered realities of community and belonging.”
1854 Photography – “…a reclamation of visibility in the face of surveillance culture.”
Studio International – “…a timely and urgent meditation on identity and civic space.”
Religion Unplugged – “…a compelling exploration of architecture, faith and cultural presence.”