Bride by Yaqeen Khawehir

"Bride is a series of work reviving the traditonal bridal wear in the Middle Eastern Persian Gulf region by using key elements from its history, which include Hamah, Mubkar, and the Gold Bracelet. The Hamah is a gold piece of hair accessories that the bride wears. Its design allows it to follow the flowing tress starting frum the forehead and can vary in length based on its design. The Mubkar is an incense holder that is famously used at Middle Eastern events. 

Creating contemporary art that has been influenced from a culture can bring attention from the younger generation and change their ideas about traditions and help them express their feelings about their culture. Countryside villages are more connected to their traditional roots and growing up in these areas was a way to explore my culture and understand its history. This broadened my vision to see some of the changes in the bridal wear that happened through time. In the history of the Middle East the wedding ceremony lasted from 7 to 10 nights where the bride wore colorful dresses, pearls, and gold. As of today, the wedding ceremony lasts for one night where the bride wears a white dress influenced by Western ideals. The idea behind this series is a hope to bring back the Middle Eastern attire during important events instead of being considered an 'old' themed party." 

- Yaqeen Khawehir