London Veil at WOW Festival

London Veil is a body of work by photographic artist Sara Shamsavari that seeks to give prominence to young muslim women in the London by documenting and celebrating the expression of their individual identities as interpreted through their vibrant and varied hijab styles and adornments.

50 images from London Veil will exhibit for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall between the 8th and 10th of March in the main Clore Ballroom as part of the Southbank's Women of the World (WOW) Festival an annual global festival where women and men of all ages celebrate women's achievements and discuss the obstacles they face across the world.

Neither a critic nor an advocate of the veil, London Veil exists to recognise and celebrate its participants as strong, vital individuals who manage to shine, despite the struggles of youth, womanhood and prejudice they may receive as a result of the visibility of their faith.

Through the documentation of London's young muslim women through their self-styled hijabs, ranging from subtle to wild in their expression,London Veil both illustrates and is inspired by the influence of our perceived restrictions, limitations and challenges. Those forces encourage originality, adaptation and in turn transform cultural expression into objects of beauty.

Sara Shamsavari is a British artist of Iranian heritage whose vibrant and emotive images explore and reinterpret identity and address current social, and cultural concerns existing within today’s society. While each of photographic series’ has a distinct focus they all seek to encourage the ideals of non-judgement, equality, unity in diversity, collective responsibility and make a significant difference to human understanding.

The artist’s work has exhibited in London, New York, Hong Kong and Paris in galleries, museums and public spaces including the Institute of Contemporary Art, Selfridges & Co, Espace Pierre Cardin (Studio 55) London City Hall, Photofusion and Danny Simmon’s Corridor Gallery. Sara has also given talks and lectures at the University of Arts London, University of Creative Arts, The Apple Store, Kings Place (Guardian Open Weekend) and the Royal Institution of Great Britain (Cr8net).

With a belief in the role of artists as leaders in social and spiritual progress who spark change Sara’s endeavor is to empower the participants of her work and in doing this, encourage a transformation in the way people view society and themselves.