‘Strength Of The Hijab’, World’s First Ever Hijabi Sculpture To Be Installed In October. (image @lukeperrysculptor)
World”s first ever hijabi sculpture is getting its last strokes before being revealed. The artwork is called “Strength of the Hijab” and is designed by renowned artist Luke Perry. The sculpture will be installed in October in the Smethwick area of the West Midlands.
The sculpture is five meter tall (16ft) and weighs a tonne. It is believed to be world”s first sculpture of a Muslim woman wearing hijab.
As countries like France and Egypt banning hijabs for schools and hijab controversy went haywire after Mahsa Amini”s death in Iran, such a sculpture of a women with hijab is expected to raise controversies.
“There”s a possibility that this piece could be controversial for many different reasons”, said Mr. Perry.
“But the future of our country is about what unites us, not what pulls us apart. Which is why it is important to have representation across the whole of the UK, of everybody that lives here”, he added.
“Strength of the Hijab” was commissioned by Legacy Westland, a local charity. Mr. Perry stated that the sculpture is for celebrating Muslim women who wear headscarf. “The Strength of the Hijab is a piece which represent women who wear hijabs of the Islamic faith, and it”s really there because it is such an underrepresented part of our community but such an important one”, Mr. Perry was quoted as saying.
He also added that the idea of the sculpture came from his communications with Muslim women he works with at Community Connect Foundation. Their answer to his questions about what artwork they like to see, to which they answered about how they have “no representation; nothing that looked like them”.
Mr. Perry also added that he liked to deliver the themes of “home” in his artworks. “It”s nice to represent the times. Its about making people feel like they belong somewhere. In my artwork I like to convey themes of “home” and having pride in the community”, he said.
Luke Perry is an English artist. He is known to the world for his immaculate works representing and celebrating the underrepresented people.
