Recipient of the Kayell Digital Print Award.
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HOLY MARYA (MARY)
I was born in Iran, where, for the past four decades, a compulsory hijab has been a means used by religious authorities to suppress women. Since arriving in Australia in 2018 to commence my art studies, I have begun to reflect more deeply on my personal life experiences in my home country.
My installations are a tribute to Iranian women who have been fighting for their basic rights since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. I use invisible ink that requires a UV torch to reveal the images. This is a deliberate strategy for encouraging audience participation, as well as a symbolic representation of Iranian women’s challenges in the face of mandatory restrictions that reduce their visibility in contemporary Iranian society.
Lala Zarei, Holy Maryam (Mary), 2022, screen print on canvas, 180cm x 60cm.
