Loud Silence, 2020

On a cotton fabric, I laser-cut a Persian poem in Farsi to form the background of a dress shape inspired by the Brocaded Taffeta Robe worn in Iran during the 17th and 18th centuries. The willow tree spikes emerging from the center of the dress create a sense of growth. “Loud Silence” speaks to the voicelessness of women in suppressive societies where power rests in men’s hands. It draws attention to the silencing of women and the immense effort required to grow, improve, and create despite these constraints. Loud Silence emphasizes that even in the harshest conditions, a woman can find the courage to blossom.