Shirin Neshat Identity

Identity is made up of who people are and characteristics that define them. Overtime, artists express the concept of identity through portraits, self-portraits, photography, videography and many more medias. The concept of identity is popular with many artists as it allows them to write their own story through art and to express whom they truly are and to not be trapped into whom society thinks they are. Identity is the way we perceive and express ourselves. Circumstances and factors that an individual is born with such as ethnic heritage, sex, or one’s body play a role in defining a person’s identity. Many features of a persons identity changes throughout their lifespan due to the influence of the decisions they have to make such as choosing …show more content…
Since the Islamic revolution, Islamic woman have felt trapped and confronted with feelings of displacement. Within ‘Speechless’, Shirin Neshat uses herself as a model and the piece displays a feeling of awe and power. Tears brim her eyes and give a look of strength as well as a cry for help. She appears ready to take on anything but her black veil seems to be holding her back. The black veil in the Islamic culture symbolises the support of the Islamic revolution. Neshat wears the black veil in the photograph and it takes up half of the image it displays a struggle between the need for freedom and the support of the religion. The written text on Neshat’s face is sacred text in the Islamic religion and by placing this over her face, the only body part where people can identify emotions, serves as a reminder of the power that religions have over women. Also seen in the photograph is Neshat embracing the gun, reflecting her conflicted emotions of freedom versus oppression. The artist makes the symbol of a woman in mourning more powerful by having opposites to each emotion in the piece: freedom and oppression, strength and weakness, determination and submission. Shirin Neshat’s piece ‘Rebellious Silence’ represents the same emotion and meaning as ‘Speechless’ only using different symbols. The woman in ‘Rebellious Silence’ also appears in a veil along with written text across her face. Only this written text can manipulate the viewer into thinking she is wearing a niqāb, not a hijab. A niqāb is a more extreme veil worn by woman to express their obedience to men in the Islamic culture. The woman within the photograph looks strong and ready to fight, staring straight down the lens of the camera. The image implies that she is going to war and that Islamic women are ready to fight for their right