Blooming and Withering

2024. Installation Art with Paper

Inspired by O’Keeffe’s paintings and my research on gender inequality in education in Afghanistan, this installation art utilizes paper to construct a fluid natural landscape of flowers and leaves. Afghanistan women, like flowers wrapped in shadows, are bound by the limited access to education, silenced before they can blossom. However, the varoius blooming fauna and flora present the inherent power and diverse voices of these women to create change and progress. The butterflies, symbols of freedom and hope, hover closely above, yet just out of reach, portraying an inherent female power that can be evoked. Advocating for silenced and marginalized voices of women, this piece reflects the importance of the female voice.