Islamic Writing

An installation of neon signs spelling out words that have become paranoid signifiers of Islam in the West. Words that refer to phenomena as diverse as food, clothing, and religious belief have all come to reside within one and the same category. Names or terms of objects and activities in daily life have become catalysts of a new kind of exoticism. This playful work seeks to illustrate how Islam is sometimes viewed, labeled, and branded. The neon-lit words, which look like shop signs, are in English and not Arabic, creating a bright pop aesthetic while simultaneously highlighting deeply held prejudices.


Exhibition views - IVAM Valencia, 2020 - photos by Juan Garcia Rosell