From the “Bullets” series by Lalla Essaydi, born and raised in Morocco and now dividing her time between there and the US: “ … women are covered in and surrounded by golden bullets in decorative patterns, a reference to her fear about the growing restrictions on women in a new postrevolutionary era in the Middle East and North Africa.”

As to the calligraphy covering her subject’s body: “Using dye from the henna plant, she writes in calligraphy on the drapery and bodies of her subjects. … calligraphy is a sacred Islamic art generally practiced by men. For Essaydi, then, henna calligraphy is ‘a veil and expressive statement’ through which women ‘speak’ in her images.”

This image should definitely be viewed in original size, especially to see the calligraphy.

‘Today’s Life and War,’ posted earlier: