Headscarf

The headscarf not only offers practical protection from the elements, it carries social, cultural, and religious significance.

This delicate cloth that covers the mind is also used as a symbol of modesty and respect - as a child I witnessed the lace mantillas my aunts wore when attending religious services. For some the headscarf is a public declaration of identity, for others it is used as an assertion of status.

That such a slender cloth can be the cause of difference shows how signs are at the heart of how we experience the world.

I consider the alternative meaning of 'wear': to damage, erode, or destroy by friction and use. Each article of our clothing informs others of our voice as much as the language we speak.

As we wear, we have our say...

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An extract from the full size image follows.