Re-Dressing the Veil
‘Re-Dressing the Veil’ is a new media art project – digital photographs and video - that looks at perceptions of Islam within the dynamics and realities of multi-culturalism.
Sakina, Penang, Digital Photograph Giclee Print, Size variable, 2008
The project is currently being undertaken in Singapore, Penang [Malaysia] and Northern Queensland [Australia] and has a number of stages that bring diverse individuals and different communities together. Through a series of photographic portraits of Muslim women who wear headscarf, the work explores the aesthetics of adornment of the different kinds of Muslim head-covering often referred to generically as ‘hijab’ [‘tudung’ in Malaysia and Singapore]. Simultaneous to this, the project seeks to unveil stereotypes and explore attitudes around the wearing of ‘hijab’ from those who do not wear it, via a series of interactive workshops. The project takes a ‘soft’ and open approach to exploring common perceptions and misperceptions regarding the ‘hijab’, and by default, Islam.
Emma, Cairns Digital Photograph Giclee Print, Size variable, 2009
The project began in October 2007 and is ongoing. The first public presentation of work from the project - ‘What if I want to water ski? And other questions’ was held in December 2008 in Australia. A development from this show was shown in the Jakarta Biennale in February 2009, followed by the exhibitions, ‘What if I want to water ski? And other questions’ held in Singapore and Brunei in June 2009. Further work from the project is being presented in Penang 2010. An exhibition venue is currently being sought in Cairns and Mareeba [Australia], and the work is available for exhibition in other places.
Fatima, Giclee Print, 2008
Re-Dressing the Veil, Video still, 2009
Intan, Singapore, Digital Photograph Giclee Print, Size variable, 2009
Fatima (excerpt), video, Malaysia 2009, full duration 8min 24 sec
And Other Questions (excerpt), Malmsbury-Jakarta 2009, full duration 7min 10sec
‘What if I want to water ski? And other questions’
The Substation, Singapore, June 2009
Black and White Photo Portraits:
Digital Imaging by James Tan, Lateral Imaging, Singapore