Exhibition visitors to pose in burkas

London, June 21 (ANI): Visitors to an art exhibition will be invited to pose for photos wearing a burka, it has been disclosed.

According to The Telegraph, the Heard and Not Seen show at Birmingham's Museum and Art Gallery is keen to break down cultural barriers, and therefore, people will be asked to pose in the headscarves in creative ways to bring their own perspective to this culturally powerful piece of cloth.

The exhibition arrives as several European countries have either banned, or are debating whether to ban, the burka.

Last week Barcelona became the latest city to forbid women from wearing it.

Those in favour of the ban argue that women pose a potential security threat because their faces are completely shielded from view.

Others have claimed that the burka demeans women by preventing people from seeing their whole faces.

But in Britain, the burka remains a prominent part of Muslim attire.

Birmingham artists Sandra Hall and Mitra Memarzia believe they can open up understanding by asking people to wear one.

"Our project is funded by the Preventing Violent Extremism projects run by the city council and focuses on Islam," Hall was quoted, as saying.

She added: "We felt that we needed to create an artwork that also created a space for conversation. There isn't enough communication between Islamic and non-Islamic communities."

The exhibition will run from July 10 to August 22. (ANI)