{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1607226"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1607226/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NC4567/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2022NC4567/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2022NC4567","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1607226/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1607226","accessionNumber":"ME.14-2021","objectType":"Mask","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Bita Ghezelayagh","id":"AUTH359573"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silk (textile)","id":"AAT243428"},{"text":"gold-wrapped thread","id":"THES252286"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2022NC4567"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"007","id":"THES394964"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"masks (costume)","id":"AAT138758"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Iran","id":"x30220"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Presented by Art Fund","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"20.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":"Not including ties"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Pen nib mask: The base fabric used for this mask comes from Iran; known as ‘zari douzi’, it is woven with gold thread. Bita had a cutting and some years ago she silkscreened a print of a pen nib on to it, as well as the Farsi phrase ‘zarin khat’, ‘golden writing’. This alludes to the use of actual pen nibs sewn onto tunics made from threadbare Middle Eastern carpets, in a series she produced in 2013 entitled ‘The Letter that Never Arrived’. She talks about the “complexity of communication” being a constant theme in her work. In converting this textile cutting to a mask, she loved the fact that the pen nib sits exactly on the lips of the wearer, “showing that the concept of freedom of expression is a fragile one”. This mask is lined with silk at the back, and has a wire sewn through it to keep it easily on the face. ","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["ME.14-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"14","accessionNumberPrefix":"ME","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-17","recordCreationDate":"2021-04-15","availableToBook":true}}