The Legal Burqa
Project details
- Year
- 2020
- Programme
- advertising
- Practices
- Commercial
- Minor
- New Frontiers
A resistance piece, combining the silhouette of the illegal, with the shape of the mandatory.
Racism is the biggest pandemic to ever hit the world.
Racism is the biggest pandemic to ever hit the world. There are countless people infected with the virus of racism, many of them even appearing asymptomatic. In these times where the world is fighting against Covid-19, racism is also heavily under attack from all sides. The Legal Burqa touches on ‘de jure racism’, which means racism by law. How law can be racist?
In the Netherlands, there is a law making islamic face covering clothing (like the burqa and the niqab) illegal. This law applies on public transport, in government buildings and health institutions. Now, because of the pandemic, it’s also mandatory to wear face masks in public transport, for “protection” against Covid-19.
Ironically, the niqab/burqa is exactly the same as a face mask. Not according to me, but according to the law. How can one thing be banned and mandatory at the same time?
Weighing the burqa against the face mask metaphorically, I realized a certain supposedly impartial individual has been closing her eyes to injustice. Lady Justice herself. To question her role and position, I adapted her attributes to the current situation and placed The Legal Burqa on her.
