Behind the Veil: The Religious Connotations and the Mystery

DAWN.COM
By Salwat Ali

"Obscure" in Sillouettes exhibition at the Taseer Art Gallery, Lahore

PAKISTAN---Veil and veiling have been a part of both Western and Eastern visual cultures for millennia. In Western art the veil is associated with exotic notions of the East and is viewed increasingly as a symbol of cultural oppression. When it comes to the East, this veil and veiling has a far wider context. Other than its religious connotations, the veil has a traditional history, is considered a symbol of respect and modesty as well as as mystery, and in current art practice its usage is loaded with socio-political implications. In the recent exhibition of paintings, ‘Sillouettes’ by Sadaf Naeem at Taseer Art Gallery, Lahore, it is the finely meshed lace veil that invites speculation. [link]