Al Jins Al Latif is a wall sculpture mounted onto or into the wall, created from hundreds of sets of manicure and pedicure instruments. These instruments are arranged as an inscription in square Kufic calligraphy, spelling the Arabic word for “gentle sex” or “kind sex,” one of the expressions for the female gender.
The work comments on the implausibility of such hazardous steel instruments being used for beauty care. At the same time, it alludes to gender issues and—compared to many European countries—the relatively high social position of women in the Arab world.
This piece challenges clichés, traditions, and orientalist views, questioning perspectives and assumptions about the female role and position within Arab societies. It addresses complex intersections of beauty, societal expectations, and cultural identity, offering a poignant critique of gender norms and perceptions.
