Analysis Of Sophia Kamal's 'Lesson In Layers'

The subjects in these two paintings have gleamy eyes , projecting a powerful and direct gaze back at the viewer and water flowing from their faces. The light and neon colour that is projected from the subject’s face downwards from their foreheads exposes the imperfections on the subject’s skin. As Low claims, Sophia Kamal’s artwork is portrayed in a way where bright lights are used as an element to “…represent(ing) water — shines on a woman’s face, revealing her imperfections” . Having said this, it is obvious that the artist is trying to find healing to her inner soul through the practice of the wudu which acts as an agent to purify, cleanse and set her apart from all her imperfect views about what beauty is.
In performing the wudu, it is
The significance of the title in decoding what is in the artist’s mind lies in the little details in the painting itself. The noun “layers” indirectly draws the viewer towards a picture covering a piece of material -- the tudung. What then does the title represent? It seemingly explains about the lessons that the artist had to learn or is in the process of learning while discovering the meaning of who she really is in being Malay. As mentioned earlier in this section, the tudung is in fact an object used to protect, cover, conceal and directly projects an image of purity among Muslim women. However, there is a deeper understanding to this matter. Surely, the artist is not just simply trying to imply that she is against covering or “layering” herself, rejecting the concept of purity, otherwise she would never consider it as “lessons”. She is taking it in a positive outlook and trying to learn to adapt to the values of being Muslim, nevertheless, she is controlled by a greater force. Does she have the freedom to choose? Yes, she does. However, she grapples between the notion of being obedient and fearful towards that greater force and her own freedom of expression. Note how the face of the subject is covered in different dark-hued colours and only her passionate eyes are being exposed. This gives the viewer a metaphorical depiction of how Muslim women in the Middle East dress: the headscarf covers the entire woman’s head and forehead all the way down to her waist and a piece of black veil or the niqab, concealing a woman’s nose and mouth, exposing only her eyes. What and how then is the idea of freedom for women being depicted in this context? The subject is seen having her fingers covering her mouth. This directly represents her inability to speak, inconvenience to speak or discuss this