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.
