Manal Al Dowayan, Suspended Together, 2011, Fiberglass and Print, Variable Dimensions.

Manal Al Dowayan is a Saudi artist whose work reveals a strong social consciousness and interest in the forms of women's existence, particularly in her home country, Saudi Arabia. Her critically engaged work, spanning from black-and-white photography, video, sound and large scale installation, questions the social constraints that many Saudi women face. In much of her work Al Dowayan often collaborates with Saudi women from a wide range of professions and backgrounds, creating genuine through her artwork, promoting an awareness of women’s rights and social justice. Doves appear frequently in Al Dowayan’s work as a representation of hope and freedom, a prominent theme in Al Dowayan’s work. Suspended Together references the Saudi law that prohibits women from traveling out of the country without an official document from a male guardian. In this work, Al Dowayan uses real travel permission documents donated to her by female Saudi scientists, educators, journalists, engineers, artists and leaders with groundbreaking achievements that gave back to their society. These documents are embedded onto fiberglass doves then installed on over 120 doves so that they appear to fly towards the viewer. From faraway, the installation gives an impression of movement and freedom. However, a closer look at the 120 doves allows the viewer to realize that the doves are actually frozen and suspended with no hope of flight. Suspended Together proposes us to reflect on society and on the laws that can evolve or change.