Preface

Extending possible interpretations of the veil and investigating the ambiguities and paradoxes expressed in contemporary arts practice, it provides both a social and an historic context to the veil’s multilayered symbolism.

Alongside newly commissioned essays by leading international scholars and works by contemporary visual artists, key historical texts trace a trajectory of writings across religions, cultures, genders and ages to reflect the breadth of conflicting and constantly shifting attitudes towards the veil.

Texts: Leila Ahmed, Jananne Al-Ani, David A. Bailey, Alison Donnell, Frantz Fanon, Reina Lewis, Hamid Naficy, Zineb Sedira, Ahdaf Soueif, Gilane Tawadros

Artists: Faisal Abdu’Allah, Kourush Adim, AES art group, Jananne Al-Ani, Ghada Amer, Farah Bajull, Samta Benyahia, Gaëtan de Clérambault, Marc Garanger, Shadafarin Ghadirian, Ghazel, Emily Jacir, Ramesh Kalkur, Majida Khattari, Shirin Neshat, Harold Offeh, Gillo Pontecorvo, Zineb Sedira, Elin Strand, Mitra Tabrizian

Published on occasion of Veil, an Iniva touring exhibition initiated by Zenib Sedira, developed by Jananne Al-Ani and Sedira, and curated by Al-Ani, David A. Bailey, Sedira and Gilane Tawadros