(self-portraits turned into embroidery)
cotton,
22x21cm
19x23cm
23x18cm
As a young woman living in a country that is dominated by the Middle East and Islamic culture, the concept of gender has always been a part of my consciousness. Growing up, I was constantly reminded of the expectations and limitations placed upon women in our society, and how our bodies are policed and regulated. Despite this, I have always been fascinated by my own sexuality and have explored it through various means, including taking and sharing nude photos of myself.
In this context, my recent 3-piece embroidery series is a statement about my own body, my sexuality, and the cultural context in which I exist. By combining traditional embroidery techniques with nude self-portraits, I have created works that are both visually striking and deeply personal. Through the use of texture, smell, and touch, I have transformed these images from two-dimensional representations of myself into three-dimensional works that are both sensuous and evocative.
But my embroidery series is not just about me and my body. It is also about the larger societal and cultural issues that surround gender and sexuality in our country. By using textiles as a medium, I am able to draw connections between the art form and the experiences of women in our society. The act of stitching and sewing is often seen as a feminine pursuit, yet it requires a level of skill and creativity that is often overlooked. In a society that often devalues the contributions of women, this is a powerful statement about the value of our labor and creativity.
Moreover, by using my own body as the subject of my embroidery series, I am challenging the ways in which women's bodies are objectified and commodified in our society. Instead of allowing my nude photos to be reduced to mere images on a screen, I have transformed them into works of art that are tactile, physical, and intimate. Through the act of embroidery, I have reclaimed my own body and my own sexuality, taking it out of the 2-dimensional world of the internet and into the real world, where it can be seen, touched, and appreciated in all its complexity.
