Look close, and you'll see that the odalisque wears a poem. Her robes, the curtains, and even the walls are inscribed in text.
Essaydi's woman commandeers poetry, bends it to her body, takes it to herself. The odalisque, traditionally seen as an instrument of men, voiceless, presents herself as a vehicle of the word. See Lalla Essaydi's site to learn more.
