Such a strong art installation!!
At first you think: doves… pretty… letters to bring around the world… freedom.
But when you look into the project, you’ll find out, that these birds are frozen. And they are carrying permission documents, that are required for Saudi women to travel. Yes, they need a permission from their husband, dad or brother.
“Suspended Together” is an installation that gives the impression of movement and freedom. However, a closer look at the 200 doves allows the viewer to realize that the doves are actually frozen and suspended with no hope of flight. An even closer look shows that each dove carries on its body a permission document that allows a Saudi woman to travel. Notwithstanding their circumstances, all Saudi women are required to have this document, issued by their appointed male guardian.
The artist reached out to a large group of leading women from Saudi Arabia to donate their permission documents for inclusion in this artwork. “Suspended Together” carries the documents of award-winning scientists, educators, journalists, engineers, artists and leaders with groundbreaking achievements that gave back to their society. The youngest contributor is six months old and the oldest is 60 years old. In the artist’s words, “regardless of age and achievement, when it comes to travel, all these women are treated like a flock of suspended doves.”
The installation is called Suspended Together, and it’s by Saudi Arabian artist Manal Al Dowayan.
via
LauraJul