The Person Beneath...

My intent throughout the project 'The Person Beneath...' was to penetrate a barrier. This barrier is instigated by a piece of cloth and is based on social, cultural or politically preconceived opinions. An article of clothing, the hijab, provides a protective shield for some Muslim women and in doing so makes them invisible. Through establishing a trustful and respectful relationship I wanted to discover the identity and personality of the person beneath the veil. The portraits produced reflect and expose these often hidden traits. I invite the viewer to gaze beneath and seek the person beyond the veil. By placing the subject at various angles the viewer has been invited to look and look again thus making oneself receptive and available to reach an empathetic understanding of the person viewed.