Two men behind a mashrabiyaTwo men behind a mashrabiya' is a multimedia work made up of a painting set behind a mashrabiya. The painting itself is of a mashrabiya, rendered in orange and purple, framed by the shadows of trees. In the lower section is an appropriation of Anthony Cudahy's fear painting in red, purple, green. Two men behind a mashrabiya contends with the issue of visuality, as discussed by Nicholas Mirzoeff in The Right To Look, in which the visual determination of a subject is the basis of its oppression. It’s a concept I’ve found to be highly relevant to me as a queer Muslim. Regarding the history of Orientalist depictions of Muslim culture as both repressive yet perverse; regarding aniconist branches of belief in Islam which prevent you from depicting figures at all; regarding my experience being closeted and having to find restitution in that, this piece sought to show (un)clearly the layers of complexity my personal experience is caught in, through the mashrabiya’s veiling of the painting, the real and painted shadows cast, and the actual mashrabiya covering the two men. 62cm x 48cm, acrylic on canvas. |