Artists Reflect on 9/11 and the Wounds of the “War on Terror”
Shahzia Sikander, Wafaa Bilal, Rina Banerjee, and others share stories from the day of the attack and the vicious campaign of Islamophobia, racism, and surveillance in its wake.
The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 triggered a profound impact on the lives of artists from Muslim, South Asian, and Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) communities. These artists witnessed the aftermath of the tragedy, which included a surge of Islamophobia, surveillance, and the justification of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In response to these events, they have reflected on how the "War on Terror" shaped their lives and their artistic expressions. Wafaa Bilal, an Iraqi-born artist, describes the sense of security that was shattered on that day and the subsequent backlash against Muslim and Arab communities. Shahzia Sikander, a Pakistani-American artist, critiques the surveillance and suspicion that arose in the aftermath of 9/11, highlighting how Muslim women became an "alibi for war."
These artists' personal and artistic reflections offer a nuanced perspective on the lasting impact of 9/11 and the "War on Terror" on SWANA communities.
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