Freedom

“Freedom” is a thought-provoking painting of an Afghani woman draped in a burqa, balancing a birdcage atop her head. Inside the cage, two birds of different colors stand side by side, with the cage door left open.

At the heart of this painting is a challenge to how we define freedom, who we deem to be free, and whether we truly have the right to speak on behalf of others’ liberties. While this painting may allow us to speculate about the freedom of birds, true freedom is something deeply personal—it should be for individuals to define, not imposed upon them by others. This work explores the delicate balance between identity, culture, and the multiple layers of freedom, feminism, and class. It invites the viewer to reflect on the way societal norms shape our perceptions of autonomy, and urges us to consider whether we are respecting people’s dignity in their pursuit of freedom, or speaking over their voices.