unveil

swedish design duo humans since 1982 have created a hair accessory that will literally give you eyes at the back of your head.

the simple, rectangular metal hair clip with a photograph of an elusive woman's pair of peepers creates the visual illusion of a woman's face wearing a niqāb headdress when clipped onto a head of long cascading black locks.
without any explanation on their website except that you can purchase one for $90.00 (only 15 remaining) is the 'hair clip on hair' a gimmicky novelty product or a statement piece that quietly implies their intent?


on one hand, i like the creep factor and the jarring visual impact it boasts while being such a simple product, i just can't decide if it's exploiting the imagery of the controversial headdress or generating awareness and potential dialogue of its political and religious implications.
perhaps humans since 1982 was inspired by french graffiti royalty princess hijab who paints black veils on huge scale fashion ad campaigns in and around paris public spaces as a form of guerilla art that 'challenges, frightens and reimagines.' the princess or perhaps prince as there is speculation she's a he, says it best: "the veil has many hidden meanings, it can be as profane as it is sacred, consumerist and sanctimonious. from Arabic Gothicism to the condition of man. the interpretations are numerous and of course it carries great symbolism on race, sexuality and real and imagined geography."


**works of princess hijab pulled from google image search, quote from here.