:: Through the Veil, Scotland, 2006

According to Islamic teachings there is a code for conduct and code of dress required by both men and women to help create a more respectful, pious society.
The Islamic veil [khimar] is the headscarf worn by Muslim women as part of a wider concept of dressing modestly, which should be applied to the rest of their clothing as well.
Muslims believe that these codes will allow women to express themselves freely and be respected for who they are rather than how they look.
The veil is related to the word hijab as well, which translates directly into [barrier] or [screen], as mentioned in the Noble Qur'an where the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) were ordered to communicate with people from behind a screen.

The play around notions of the veil, screen, seen and unseen, the other side and barrier all developed to conceptualize the experience inside the installation space. The visitor will encounter a wall [screen] with overlapped projections of portraits of Muslim women wearing the veil and Muslim women in urban life. In the background is a sonic collage of people's thoughts and reflections about the Islamic veil. The visitor is encouraged to walk, go to the other side and get closer to the screen, thus interacting with it and creating shadows that will unveil one of the two projections.
The aim of this installation is to create a more intimate experience of understanding and appreciating [the other] through the concept of the veil.
Special words of gratitude for:
:: Marco Secchi, professional photographer | Sithean Photography
:: Kate Grey, artist | One Mile project | Collective Gallery
:: Sahdia Raja and the rest of the Muslim women featured

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