A HOUSE FOR M.I.A.

 

 

At least, for M.I.A. the way she was dressed At the Scream Awards not too long ago. We read in the caption accompanying the picture:

 

Controversial hip-hop star M.I.A. -- who treated the rowdy crowd to a musical performance during the show -- turned heads in the night's most talked-about ensemble, which consisted of a custom-made burka, black gloves, and gladiator sandals.

 

It was this picture that inspired us to launch this competition, and nothing else.

 

We think this picture is important in order to reflect on the exasperations of contemporary life vis-à-vis religion, vis-à-vis identity, vis-à-vis culture.

 

What is the relationship between fashion and religion…?

 

What does one’s attire say…?

 

The need for outrageous identification is exacerbated today as never before.

 

But in this case the presence of a certain “darkness” and the presence of the burka amplifies the tensions.

 

Maybe this attire does say something about the “shadow,” in a Jungian sense, in the collective unconsciousness of the West.

 

Indeed, some of the countries placed on the “axis of evil” by the previous president of the United States do represent that Jungian shadow, and this “shadow is well present in the way M.I.A. dressed for these “shadow awards.”

 

What we invite you to do is to reflect, intensely, on the relationship between fashion and religion and national identity on one hand, and between the White Man’s legacy the less White Man’s one.

 

Doesn’t the attire of MIA address (maybe unconsciously) such issues…?

 

The questions seem particularly relevant today, when certain “civilized” countries condemn through enacted laws the burka, as they condemn Islam.

 

But here it is a Western singer who brings to the surface what seems to be desired buried… so maybe it is a good occasion to reflect on this matter. While the cacophony of this attire is to be repelled, probably, the meanings behind it might be of some relevance, today.

 

So please try to design A HOUSE FOR M.I.A. as dressed in the picture here in published.

 

Please send us ANY work, ANY size and ANY format that responds to the theme to house_for_mia@icarch.us. We will publish all the works received on our new website, www.icarch.us. There is no registration fee. The deadline to submit your work is December 31st 2010. If you have any questions please contact us.

 

Thank you,

ICARCH Gallery