A Gaze through the Veil:

Fig 10: Shirin Neshat, Fervor, Still from Video Installation, 2000.In this piece Neshat shows the restrictions imposed on both men and women.Contrasting to ‘Rapture’ and ‘Turbulent’ she addresses on issue that effects bothsexes. In this installation, two screens are placed side by side creating a “mirroredeffect.” (Macdonald, 2004, p.16) By doing this she illustrates that both sexes areunder the same restrictions and effected equally by his strict policy.She once again contrasts spaces by using the desert and a man-made environment. Inthe desert the couple exchange glances, aware of the rules but allowing temptation totake hold, but in the public space they are aware of their wrong doing and areashamed, they are unable to make eye contact as the curtain blocks their view. Doesthis curtain symbolize the barrier that the Islamic policy and society imposes? “Neshatcaptures the tension between human nature and cultural codes. She contrasts thesimplicity and openness of the natural landscape where the couple initially meet andthe claustrophobic atmosphere of the public lecture.” (Tenaglia, 2002, p.7)