Triptych | Oil on Canvases

120” x 90”

“Hijab,” coincides with increased public and official hostility towards Islamic symbols. It is a self-portrait that poses a paradox; A blue-eyed, fair-skinned, western woman is portrayed in a Middle Eastern hijab (veil). The depictions almost contradict one another in the crossing of cultural reference.

The veil serves as a historical reference dating back to the 13^th Century B.C.E, where veiling was restricted to respectable women and prohibited for prostitutes. Veiling and seclusion were marks of prestige and symbols of status. Since then, the veil has transformed into an object of political, social, religious, and sexual contention that reaches far beyond the borders of an Islamic context. The veil is said to be a divine duty, where the worth of a woman is in her veil. It is a symbol of religious devotion, iconic feminism, and body politics. It marks the oppression under which women must adhere to Islamic law. And it also carries with it a sexual message in which the woman behind the veil becomes an object of desire and an erotic symbol meant to hide traces of sexuality.

By the simple act of veiling, the figure takes on a whole new meaning. In this way, another form of self-portraiture is introduced that transcends the figure itself. It is a self-portrait of the audience –projecting prejudices and stereotypes onto the piece. The various emotions and connotations aroused testify to its controversiality. The portrait becomes less about a Muslim woman … less about a western woman in middle eastern garb… and more about those caught in the act of staring.

The inscription along the bottom of the series is meant to confront a non-Arabic speaking audience with a barrier.

The Arabic translates to, “I Am Who I Am With or Without My Veil.”