Untitled (from Hijab Series) 2002

This image, part of Boushra Yahya Almutawakel’s Hijab Series, presents a woman cloaked in the American flag. The way the photograph is presented is so intriguing. It’s about how we see, and what we think we see. There's a tension in the material—the cool, crisp fabric of the flag juxtaposed with the warmth of her skin. It's not just about the visual; it’s about the tactile, the textures that whisper stories of identity and belonging. The stripes and stars aren't just symbols, they're brushstrokes on a canvas of cultural complexity. This is not only a portrait, but also a statement. Almutawakel, like artists such as Shirin Neshat, invites a re-evaluation of cultural symbols and identity constructs. There’s no singular truth, only layers of interpretation.