Rebellious Silence by Shirin Neshat

Shirin Neshat was born and raised in Iran. After high school she moved to the United States and studied art. Through her "Women of Allah" series, she captures devout Iranian women and reveals a muted sexuality and femininity. She releases her personal feelings by attempting to disrupt the assumptions of "Islamic" femininity. Her role as an artist in "Rebellious Silence" is revealing hidden truths. She seeks to expose the unknown liberties of women in full chador (dress that only allows the face and hands to be seen). In her art she seeks to explain that this concealment actually keeps women from becoming a sexual object, therefore truly keeping men and women equal. Thus, the chador actually becomes a liberty, not a confinement. The writing on her face is a Farsi poem that expresses deep piety. From a Western perspective, this photograph seems oppressive, and can lead to misjudgment. The gun clearly represents this division between Islam and the West, and the differences between what femininity means in both cultures. This picture truly embodies a devout Iranian woman and dismisses misconceptions of her faith.

To see find out more information or to see more picture please click here :) http://www.iranian.com/Arts/Dec97/Neshat/