The Cultural Contrasts of Symbolism

For "The cultural contrasts of symbolism ', Sander Reijgers has combined Nike jackets with the keffiyeh (better known as the ‘Arafat scarf’). The clear and powerful symbols create, once combined, a certain tension with the Nike swoosh representing the Western world, capitalism and sports and and the keffiyeh representing the East, the Islam, and ‘left-wing’ politics. These symbols are full of history and social and cultural values and meanings. In this way, culture, politics and religion are combined in a single image.
This project has found its final form in photography. By portraying homosexual men wearing the jackets, a slight sexual meaning will be added to the project. The subtle reference to homosexuality in conjunction with the scarf and jacket unconsciously creates friction.