Through the Veil is an interactive installation that explores the Islamic veil as both garment and concept, engaging with ideas of modesty, visibility, and cultural perception.
In Islamic teachings, both men and women follow a code of conduct and dress that aims to foster a respectful, pious society. For Muslim women, the veil, commonly understood as the headscarf, forms part of a broader notion of modest attire. The Arabic word hijab translates directly as “barrier” or “screen,” shaping both physical practice and metaphorical meaning.
The installation takes these layered ideas of veil, screen, seen and unseen, barrier and passage, and translates them into a spatial experience. Visitors step into the space and immediately confront a wall “screen” with overlapping projections. One projection displays portraits of veiled Muslim women; the other shows footage of everyday life in Edinburgh, where veiled women move through the city. A sonic collage surrounds the scene with fragments of voices, people’s thoughts and reflections on the veil.
As visitors move closer, they cast shadows across the projections. Their movement blocks one image and reveals hidden details from the other. By choosing how to walk, pause, or approach, visitors literally unveil new perspectives. The interaction transforms their bodies into active participants, shaping the experience in real time.
Through the Veil asks audiences to engage with intimacy and encounter, to reflect on how perception shapes understanding. The work invites them to see “the other” differently through presence, proximity, and embodied curiosity.
Project Support
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Kate Grey, artist | One Mile Project | Collective Gallery
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Sahdia Raja and the women who generously participated
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Marco Secchi, photographer | Sithean Photography