Converging Territories #22 2004

Lalla Essaydi made Converging Territories #22 with photography, ink, and henna. Looking at this triptych, the eye meanders through a world of textured surfaces, of fabrics, patterns, and skin, all painted with henna. The whole scene shimmers with subtle shifts in tone. The way the images are presented as panels encourages you to scan across the surface, seeking out the story. Notice how the calligraphy that covers almost every surface denies you its legibility. It is a veil, a form of concealment. On the right, the woman is swallowed by the textile that spreads around her, becoming architecture. It makes me think about the work of Shirin Neshat, another artist whose work touches on questions of identity and representation in the context of Islamic culture. The conversation between these artists reminds me that art can create spaces for cultural exchange and challenge fixed understandings.