Rabat – English artist Luke Perry has created a sculpture titled “Strength of the Hijab” to pay homage to women who wear hijab. The artwork is believed to be the first of its kind globally, BBC reported.
Standing tall at five meters and weighing approximately a tonne, the sculpture is set to be unveiled next month in the Smethwick area of the West Midlands, England.
The sculpture was commissioned by Legacy West Midlands, a charity dedicated to celebrating the heritage of post-war migrant communities in Birmingham.
Speaking about his sculpture, Perry said that “the Strength of the Hijab is a piece which represents women who wear hijabs of the Islamic faith, and it’s really there because it’s such an underrepresented part of our community, but such an important one.”
The ‘Strength of the Hijab’ Sculpture
The artist emphasized the importance of providing visibility to Islam and its traditions, stressing that it is an integral part of the community.
“They [hijabi women] need visibility, it’s so important, so working with the community to come up with the designs has been really exciting because we didn’t know what it was going to look like until now,” he added.
Despite the potential controversy surrounding the sculpture, Perry stressed the necessity of representing all individuals residing in the UK, promoting unity and understanding amongst communities.
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“There’s a possibility that this piece could be controversial for many different reasons. I don’t feel like any of them are valid, but people do,” he said.
Recognized for his previous work on the “Black British History is British History” sculpture, Perry remains optimistic about the overwhelmingly positive reception the hijab sculpture has received from the community.
