By Allison Cepis
A new artistic sensation is rampant throughout France: guerilla “hijabization.” An anonymous artist known solely as Princess Hijab, spray paints hijabs and chadors on public images of women and men in ads in Paris. Since 2006, her actions have spurred not only a fantastic new artistic craze, but also a controversy that runs deep in France today. In recent years, President Nicholas Sarkozy denounced hijabs as oppressive to women and his predecessor, President Jacques Chirac, passed legislation to ban hijabs in schools.
Although not all Muslim women wear the veil, many were outraged by the fact that they were no longer allowed the choice. Now, Princess Hijab creatively covers women in the veil in what could be seen as a rebellion against the overbearing authority of the French government and an attack on overtly sexual Western advertising.
Critics of Princess Hijab’s artwork claim that she is attempting to cover up the supposed shame of naked bodies, particularly women’s. However, her intentions run deeper than that. “My work explores how something as intimate as the human body has become as distant as a message from your corporate sponsor,” she elaborates. Her trend of “hijabizing” or “hijabization,” she claims, is a form of “re-humanization.” As stated in Bitch Magazine, “Her work attempts to remove the hijab from its gendered and religious context and convert it into a symbol of empowerment and re-embodiment.” The scantily clad, starved and airbrushed bodies in Western ads are her typical targets.
The 21-year-old guerilla artist, who refers to herself in third person, chooses to remain anonymous. “I created PH to be connected,” she tells Menassat.com, “I wanted to mix elements from different extractions and cultures, starting from my initial subject: the veiled woman. I believe it’s the reason why PH had such an impact. She never let herself be defined by neither religion nor gender. It was really crucial for me.” Like the images of women and men subjected to her subversive artwork, anonymity allows her freedom to expand her identity.
Her manifesto states: “Princess Hijab knows that L’Oreal and Dark & Lovely have been killing her little by little. With her spray paint and black marker pen, she is out to hijabize advertising. Even Kate Moss is targeted.”
If you are interested in what Princess Hijab’s artwork looks like, check out her art blog princesshijab.org.
Photo courtesy: muslimahmediawatch.org
For me, when I see PH's street art splashed on concrete walls, billboards or advertisements, she is sending out a message that Muslim women exist and that we are here to stay.
Just my interpretation, though.
Posted by: Deaf Indian Muslim Anarchist ! | January 2010 at 07:08 PM