Razan Abou Askar is a Palestinian-Finnish independent artist living in Helsinki. Her studies of English Language and Literature, as well as a love for art, which runs in the family, reinforced her artistic interests, especially in terms of writing and performance art. Growing up abroad and having been born to a family who emigrated from Palestine to the Middle East and Europe long ago, Razan explores in different ways what it means, emotionally and psychologically, to be caught in between these different worlds. The quest for individual liberty and contemporary women’s socio-cultural circumstances are some of the issues inspiring her to write a number of short stories and poetry.
Photo: Sepideh Rahaa
strip
strip
the outer layer
I want to strip
and not feel naked
or vulnerable
peel the skin that smells like reproval
I want soul I want heart
see this body go mural
strip
the thought of shame
I want to strip
away my name
cover skin with soil and cause turmoil
in this game
called blame
strip
the borders
drawn around an earth bound to
nations
mistaking unity for infantry
confusing “normativeness” for “naturalness”
enemies
or neighbours
—selfsame turning of tables
strip
the socialisation into maleness and femaleness
I want to strip
me
and wear you
till we become undifferentiated
till I no longer need to strip
to be naked
with you
Sivuvalo Platform 