Daccanomics
A big steel sculpture honoring Muslim women who wear the hijab, a headscarf covering the hair, neck, and sometimes shoulders, will be revealed in Birmingham, the second-largest city in the UK, next month. This artwork, designed by Luke Perry, is going to be placed in the Smethwick area of the West Midlands in October.
The sculpture is five meters tall and weighs about a ton. It’s thought to be the first of its kind in the world. It’s called “Strength of the Hijab” and shows a Muslim woman wearing a hijab with a message at its base that says, “it is a woman’s right to be loved and respected whatever she chooses to wear.”
Luke Perry, the artist, explained that this sculpture is meant to represent Muslim women who wear hijabs because they are an important but often overlooked part of the community. He mentioned that working with the community to come up with the design was exciting because they didn’t know how it would look until now.
The sculpture will be placed in Smethwick, a place with a significant Islamic community. Perry emphasized that this sculpture celebrates people who aren’t usually celebrated, especially in public art.
He also acknowledged that some people might find this sculpture controversial, but he believes it’s essential to represent everyone who lives in the UK. In the past, Perry has designed other sculptures that highlight Black British history and British history.
