Zainab I + Zainab II

from the series Clothbound by Leila Fatemi, 2014

Artwork Statement

Clothbound is a photographic series exploring the way in which the veiled Muslim woman is perceived in Western culture. The images employ strategies of concealing and revealing to visually depict the many facets of the veil and its place in Western society. 

The use of diptychs reveals the dichotomy between how Muslim women are often construed by Western society and the diverse ways they choose to represent themselves. The first image of each pair removes any notion of identity or individuality from the woman by blending her into the background, rendering her invisible, cloaked by stereotypes. The accompanying image uses a similar aesthetic but, through her gaze and bearing, she assumes a role of power and assertion, granting her an agency she is not typically afforded by Western society.
Clothbound also focuses on the artist’s role as a modern Muslim woman using photography as her medium of choice. Photography, historically used to reflect and reinforce Orientalist discourses, has likewise been used to deny the Muslim woman agency. In these images, the artist reclaims the medium and uses it to counter notions of the oppressed, submissive, passive Muslim woman propagated by Orientalism.
Both the subject and the artist combine forces here to contribute their lived experiences and provide the viewer with an alternative, more informed perspective on the veiled Muslim woman.

Artist Biography

Leila Fatemi is an emerging artist, curator and community arts worker based in Tkaronto/Toronto. Living between cultures, her work and curatorial endeavours stem from her daily experiences as a visible minority and aim to provide platforms and contribute alternative narratives to conversations of ethnic representation in contemporary art.

Learn more about Leila >

Purchase Details

The prints you receive are archival, photographic prints on a semi-matte paper with a longevity of 100+ years under normal light conditions.

Each print ships with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by the artist, which serves as proof your artwork is a bonafide member of its limited edition. You should keep this in a safe place.

All prices are in American dollars (USD).

Framing

Canadian customer orders are framed in Toronto; orders from the United States are framed in Texas. All frames come with D-rings for installation. All orders come with our free downloadable installation guide.

Shipping

Upon receiving your order, we will send you an order confirmation. Your artwork(s) will be printed and framed to order. Expected lead time is 3-4 weeks. Delays due to COVID-19 are possible and depend on the shipping provider. Feel free to send us an email anytime about your order!