UNVEILING INVISIBILITY

The role that women play within the Catholic church is very complex and presents many different facets. Depending on the time, place and historical moment, a convent can be seen as a space of freedom for women or as a place of control. “Unveiling Invisibility” introduces viewers to the hidden behind walls life of the nuns. Few people have been behind those walls. This project was born out of a fascination and curiosity with the secluded, silent, and religious lives of those women. What exactly does a nun's life entail, and what happens in their isolated community? Moreover, why have they chosen (if they were able to choose) to live there?

This project seeks to demonstrate the realities that these women have faced in the course of their lifetime. I strived to establish a dialogue surrounding their experiences and to shift the conversation from negative stigmatization to a deep understanding and respect of their decision. While religious men engage in an active role in the world, nuns fulfill their role segregated from the outside. Hence, the invisibility of the nuns echoes that of many women - who also face the feeling of invisibility as they advocate for an alternative to the place within society which has been imposed upon them.