Be in My Chador- Tara Yadollahi

In the past few years, my projects have been engaged with themes of feminism, societal norms, and freedoms of expression; “Be in My Chador” is a video installation to explore themes of self- censorship and imposed identity.

The installation consists of two videos, each projected onto opposite sides of a room through painted fabrics installed in the gallery’s center. The first video depicts a woman preparing herself according to the government-recommended dress code, known as the “chador.” The second video features a pale red shadow of a girl dancing freely to her favorite song. The fabric serves as a metaphor for the omnipresence of societal and governmental influence.

The writings on the fabric include words such as “compulsion,” “hijab,” “morality,” “police,” “chastity,” and “purity”—terms frequently used by the government to promote hijab enforcement or words that reflect societal expectations for women. As the writings near the red shadow, they gradually fade, symbolizing how the influence of society and government diminishes when one experiences freedom.

This juxtaposition highlights the duality I experienced within society, represented through contrasting figures: the central woman, constrained by societal expectations, and the shadowed girl, embodying a longing for liberation. The painted fabrics emphasize the pervasive force of governmental and societal pressures, grounding the narrative in a specific historical and cultural context.

To reinforce the tension between these opposing realities, I incorporated glitches and flashbacks in each video, momentarily revealing fragments of the alternate scene. These disruptions blur the boundaries between the two worlds, underscoring the persistent inner conflict between public compliance and private self-expression. By avoiding dramatic peaks or overt surprises in the editing, I sought to convey the understated yet deeply ingrained struggles that subtly shape daily life and personal thought.

In conclusion, this piece addresses self-censorship, while the desire for freedom exists, societal and governmental constraints often necessitate self-restraint, forcing individuals to navigate a complex interplay of internal and external voices. Even when one wishes to dance to a favorite song, ingrained influences dictate behavior. In my case, the restrictions were imposed by the government, but I believe this issue transcends gender and geography, manifesting in varying degrees across cultures.