- Luke Perry has created a sculpture of a hijabi woman which is a tonne in weight and 5 metres high. The sculpture will be home to Birmingham by next month.
- Much controversy has surrounded the sculpture in question with Breakfast show hosts asking questions such as ‘Is the hijab oppressive?’. In addition, Muslim women do not believe that this sculpture can assist them and their cause.
A sculpture believed to be the world’s first of its kind, is set to be revealed next month to honour women who wear the hijab. Crafted by the renowned artist Luke Perry, ‘The Strength of the Hijab’ will grace the Smethwick region of Birmingham in October. This sculpture, depicts a woman adorned with the headscarf commonly worn by Muslim women.
Standing at a height of five meters and weighing approximately a tonne. Luke Perry expressed his excitement about collaborating with the community to develop the design, stating, ‘They need visibility; it’s so important. Working with the community to conceive the design has been truly exhilarating because we didn’t have a clear vision until now.’
Perry added:
‘The Strength of the Hijab represents women who wear hijabs as a part of their Islamic faith. It exists to shed light on this underrepresented segment of our community, which holds great importance. They deserve recognition, and this sculpture is a powerful way to achieve that. They need visibility; it’s crucial.’
The sculpture is to be placed in Smethwick, an area with a substantial Islamic community where the hijab is an integral part of their identity but remains underrepresented in public art, particularly within a heroic context. Perry remarked, ‘This sculpture celebrates individuals who have been significantly under-celebrated.’
Luke Perry is known for his previous work on the ‘Black British History is British History’ sculpture, created in collaboration with Canaan Brown, which was installed in nearby Winson Green in May. Despite the defacement of that piece shortly after installation, Perry emphasized the importance of representing all facets of the UK’s diverse population. He stated, ‘I don’t believe any objections are valid, but some people do. There are those who resist the diversity within our communities and prefer division. However, the future of our country should be about unity, not division. Hence, it’s crucial to have representation from every corner of the UK, including everyone who calls it home.’
Perry further noted that the response to the new sculpture has been overwhelmingly positive, even though people have only seen photos of it so far. ‘People have been impressed not only by its imposing size but also by the level of intricate detail. I believe it will become a cherished part of the community.’
This sculpture, commissioned by the Legacy West Midlands charity, is constructed from steel, which will undergo galvanization before its final completion.”
On Wednesday morning, many witnessed the fiery debate between Breakfast guests, sister Fahima Mahomed and Khadija Khan by GB News presenters Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster. Holmes posed questions to his guests in relation to the installation of the sculpture, such as, ‘Is the Hijab oppressive.?’
Screenshot from GB News website
“This is very interesting, if you go to Birmingham, there’s a new sculpture there, it’s very powerful, very beautiful – but is it a symbol of oppression?” Holmes said.
He then turned to sister Fahima to ask about the importance of the hijab for Muslim women. “I wear it because it is a part of my faith and it is part of my identity,” she said as well as stating Islamic women often use it to “cover-up” as well. She also added it helps her remain “modest” and argued it doesn’t symbolise “oppression”.
“That ideology is inherently misogynistic.” “That ideology looks down on women,” Khan claimed.
Mahomed added later in the debate, “Well, what about the people in France? They choose to wear it and they are being oppressed – the people in France are choosing…”
While Mr. Perry’s gesture seems well-intentioned, perhaps some further investigation into whether sculptures are permissible in orthodox Islam would have been a good idea. It does raise questions about whether placing a sculpture of a ‘Hijabi’ in the city of Birmingham addresses the fundamental needs of Muslim women. What Muslim women truly require is government assistance that ensures our freedom of religion without hindrance, governments that respect our choice of attire, rather than instigating the trivialization of our dress code, which is a fundamental part of our identity.
