Allegiance with Wakefulness 1994

Shirin Neshat made this photograph, Allegiance with Wakefulness, and I see it as a document of a layered process of seeing, writing, and picturing. The stark monochrome emphasizes the contrast between the delicate calligraphy covering the soles of the feet and the cold, hard metal of the gun. Look closely, and you can see how the writing almost seems to mold itself to the curves and contours of the skin, creating a tension between the softness of the body and the rigidity of the text. It’s like the words are trying to take root, to find a new way of being in the world. The barrel of the gun bisects the image, creating a stark division between the two feet, also between vulnerability and violence. Neshat's work reminds me of Barbara Kruger, in that both artists use text and image to create powerful statements about identity, power, and resistance, embracing the complexities and contradictions inherent in the human experience. It's not about easy answers but about opening up a space for questioning and reflection.