In Gazelle Samizay’s video Upon My Daughter, a young bride reclines on a carpet while a group of women collectively embroider her gown, preparing her for her wedding day. With each thread sewn, they seem to symbolically pass on advice for marital life. However, their stitches become more cumbersome and arbitrarily sewn, eventually entangling the fraught bride. Trapped within a now misshapen bundle of silk and tulle, she writhes around in discomfort, bound by her elders’ expectations. This work not only speaks to Samizay’s experiences as an Afghan woman, but also addresses the societal constraints and familial pressures that women universally face. Born in Kabul in 1981 and raised in Washington state, Samizay now resides in Los Angeles where she creates artworks that address issues of gender, identity, and trauma.