Lie Fhung

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There are conflicting demands towards women’s bodies: to both cover up their bodies, and to expose their bodies. These demands often come from outside forces - especially in patriachal and fundamentalist religious societies who see women and their bodies as the property of the male.

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However, whether it is acknowledged or not, these demands also arise from within women themselves. There is this natural desire to reveal the beauty of their bodies to others: we want to look beautiful - not just for ourselves, but also for others, regardless of their gender. On the other hand, there is also need to veil our body; be it out of personal preferences, out of modesty, out of fear of sexual assault, out of lack of self confidence, for religious reasons, or for reasons imposed by the conservative and patriachal societies.

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External demands imposed upon women on how they should, or should not, dress themselves are infringing on women’s moral right to their own bodies. Women should not be made responsible nor be victimised for men’s lack of integrity.

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In this artwork I have created a couple of 'cage dresses' made of thin, woven metal, both translucent and inhibiting, expressive of these complex dichotomies inherent in the different impulses towards veiling and unveiling to which women are subject.