I recently became interested in the use of fabric in my artworks. In my opinion, the power of fabric as a political tool is undisputable. Fabrics can separate bodies from one another. They can become a tool to separate genders, to oppress others or to provide a shield for individuals. Fabrics can also become a tool to instill fear. I tried to work with the idea of fear that exists among westerners towards Muslims in these performance series. It is easier to identify someone’s religion if they are dressed according to their religion’s requirements especially in the case of women. Women in Islam should cover their whole body except for hands and feet and face. This specific way of dressing in a western country creates a sense of otherness. Climate of fear performances bring these issues to attention and shows the power of fabric—a creation of humans—as an object.
Climate of fear is a series of my performances based in Chicago.
Climate of fear is a series of my performances based in Chicago.
Climate of Fear 001
Climate of Fear 001 was performed at the University of Illinois in mid-October, 2013.
I often feel uncomfortable as a woman who was born a Muslim when people talk about terrorism. Why? I know I am not a terrorist and I do not know anyone who is affiliated with them, so why am I ashamed? Is it because I was born a Muslim? Is it because I am from the Middle East? After September 11 many Muslims feel the same. The Lives of Muslims living in America (especially the practicing Muslims) became challenging since then. The terrorist attacks resulted in Americans’ fear of Muslims. For example, a woman who used to go to work wearing hijab (covered-up) is scared of being labeled a terrorist. This well-known phenomenon is called “climate of fear”. “Climate of fear is used to describe fears about Islamic terrorism, which it is argued to be fears that are usually exaggerated or are irrational in nature.” (Zbigniew Brzezinski, Terrorized by War on Terror, March 2007) As someone who has been living in the U.S. since three years after September 11, I have often witnessed this fear through talking to people.
In this performance five women, and five men stood in a narrow hallway dressed as muslims. People had to enter this space in order to get to the discussion area.
I often feel uncomfortable as a woman who was born a Muslim when people talk about terrorism. Why? I know I am not a terrorist and I do not know anyone who is affiliated with them, so why am I ashamed? Is it because I was born a Muslim? Is it because I am from the Middle East? After September 11 many Muslims feel the same. The Lives of Muslims living in America (especially the practicing Muslims) became challenging since then. The terrorist attacks resulted in Americans’ fear of Muslims. For example, a woman who used to go to work wearing hijab (covered-up) is scared of being labeled a terrorist. This well-known phenomenon is called “climate of fear”. “Climate of fear is used to describe fears about Islamic terrorism, which it is argued to be fears that are usually exaggerated or are irrational in nature.” (Zbigniew Brzezinski, Terrorized by War on Terror, March 2007) As someone who has been living in the U.S. since three years after September 11, I have often witnessed this fear through talking to people.
In this performance five women, and five men stood in a narrow hallway dressed as muslims. People had to enter this space in order to get to the discussion area.
Photos by Soohyun Kim
Climate of Fear 002
Climate of Fear 002 was performed twice in Wicker Park, Illinois in mid-December, 2013. Could the fourth hippest neighborhood in the U.S. (Wicker Park, IL) have failed at being hip? I wanted to challenge Wicker Park by assuming a foreign identity, and in this case, my Muslim identity. I asked random people to take pictures with me. The first time I performed this out of about 52 people who I asked, only 20 said yes. The second time I performed this I asked about 20 people to take pictures with me, and 14 people said yes. The result of this performance is a letter to my family, something that I often do. I also printed all the pictures and I will send them to my family in Iran in January 2014. Once my family receives this letter, I will Skype with them and I will document the Skype session. All the documentation of this performance will be shared here.
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