Facing history takes a sweeping look at her output and will present her iconic blackandwhite photographic portraitswhich she discusses belowas well as her nonnarrative videos and her recent forays into cinema. May 18, 2015 shirin neshat is an iranianborn visual artist who has made her home countrys turbulent history the subject of high art. At that time, neshat began to photograph herself wearing the chador, or veil. Shirin neshat on directing looking for oum kulthum and making art in exile duration. The book of kings is a series of photographs, with farsi calligraphy and beautiful drawings from the preislamic history of persia inscribed on the developed image. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. Her artwork centers on the contrasts between islam and the west, femininity and masculinity, public life and private life, antiquity and modernity, and bridging the spaces between these subjects.
May 17, 2010 neshat made a lovely choice in her text for this image, which imbues it with layers of paradox and discovery. Gladstone gallery specializes in modern and contemporary art with locations in new york and brussels. Facing history is the companion volume to the smithsonians hirshhorn museum exhibition of the same name. Oct 21, 20 shirin neshat is an iranian artist and filmmaker. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. The exhibition consisted of a total of 56 black and white photos framed in unmated and black frames that were hung across the two galleries. She obtained her ba, ma, and mfa at uc berkeley and moved to new york city in 1983.
Shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012. One depicts a group of men dressed in western suits and the. Shirin neshats photographs and videos address individual freedoms under attack from or repressed by social ideologies. Shirin neshats powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native iran.
At the age of seventeen, she relocated to the united states to complete her education. Shirin neshats zarin ran at barbara gladstone through november 12, 2005, laurie anderson at sean kelly through october 22, and jonathan horowitz at yvon lambert through november 12. Neshats the book of kings is inspired by the epic poem shahnameh the book of kings, by the 11thcentury poet ferdowsi, which chronicled iran through the 7thcentury islamic conquest of persia. Like most revolutions, however, the series of events that. Throughout most of neshats career, she has been exiled from iran, an outside observer of islamic laws. The iranian artist shirin neshat has spent her career documenting the struggle for civil liberties that still rages throughout much of the islamic world, approaching every project with an exacting. Facing history presents an array of neshats most compelling works, illuminating the points at which cultural and political events have impacted her artistic practice. Neshat made a lovely choice in her text for this image, which imbues it with layers of paradox and discovery. Shirin neshats determination to undermine western assumptions about middle eastern women has resulted in an already substantial body of astounding and profound work. I first interviewed shirin neshat two years ago, in the dimly lighted backroom of an. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of. She who tells a story is an exhibit at the museum of fine arts, boston.
I went in october or november of 2012 with my collaborator, someone who always takes the photos for me, larry barnes. Inspired to create her bestknown photographic series women of allah 199397, neshat wrote verses by contemporary iranian women writers across the surface of her. The iran she knows is filled with poetry and mysticism. But that is not the world that shirin neshat knows. Her personal experiences as a muslim woman in exile have informed her practice in which she employs photography, video installation, cinema and performance to explore political. And though in all lands, love is now mingled with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. The book of kings photographs, for example, recall the green movement, in which dozens, if not hundreds of people were killed, many more. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Shirin neshats large photo series the book of kings is inspired by the 60,000 verse poem shahnameh the book of kings from the eleventh century by the. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist and activist. Shirin neshat roja from the book of kings series in almost all of essaydis works, most notably in her acclaimed les femmes du maroc series, the artist casts women to appear before her camera with arabic text adorning their garments, bodies, and environs.
Neshat s series returned to gladstone through february 23, 2008. Interweaving history, poetry and politics, the series is set against the backdrop of the recent arab. Exiled iranian artist shirin neshat looks at the egyptian. In her work, she explores iran pre and postislamic revolution, tracing political and societal change through powerful images of women.
Shirin neshats rapture is an allegorical investigation into islamic laws effects on gender politics and daily life. She grew up in a westernized, upper middle class family in iran and attended college in the u. The exhibit, the book of kings, was inspired by the wave of political uprisings throughout the arab world last year, and according to the gallery, explores the underlying conditions. Shirin neshat provokes a more complex conversation about iran and the united states than has been possible in decades past. Shirin neshat salah patriots, from the book of kings. Shirin neshat, the book of kings, 2012, installation view. This beautiful volume presents an array of neshats most compelling works and illuminates the points at which cultural and. Shirin neshat biography childhood, life achievements. On guard 1998 national museum of women in the arts. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. One of the most exciting and important young artists of the past decade, ira. Shirin neshat born march 26, 1957 in qazvin, iran is an iranian visual artist who lives in new york. Her artwork centers on the contrasts between islam and the west, femininity and masculinity, public life and private life, antiquity and modernity, and bridging the.
The political and religious upheaval that affected iran in 1979 is best remembered for the taking of american hostages and the deposing of the shah. Discover book depositorys huge selection of shirin neshat books online. This beautiful volume presents an array of neshat s most compelling works and illuminates the points at which cultural and political events have inflected her artistic practice. Born in iran, neshat emigrated to the united states in 1974 at the age of 17, and today has photographs, films, and videos in museum collections across the country.
Shirin neshat ghada mourners from the book of kings series 20 shirin. Veiled women brandish guns in defiant stances, with arabic calligraphy drawn upon the background of the photos. On wednesday october 16, 20 i was fortunate to attend a lecture with some of my art history students at the museum of fine arts, boston entitled shirin neshat. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet.
May 15, 2015 the book of kings photographs, for example, recall the green movement, in which dozens, if not hundreds of people were killed, many more arrested, and which took an unfathomable toll on the. Shirin neshat is a contemporary iranian visual artist best known for her work in photography, video, and film such as her 1999 film rapture,which explore the relationship between women and the religious and cultural value systems of islam. Shirin neshats photographs and video installations explore the cultural issues that shape her native iran, with particular emphasis on the experience of women. Gladstone gallery is pleased to announce our fifth exhibition with shirin neshat. The installation features two blackandwhite projections. Although based in new york, most of her inspiration comes from her native home.
Shirin neshat is an iranianborn visual artist who has made her home countrys turbulent history the subject of high art. See more ideas about shirin neshat, photography and artist. May 3, 2015 shirin neshat, nida patriots, from the book of kings series. Her earliest work as a photographer was born out of a. Iranian artist shirin neshat on art, politics and changing. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Jan 14, 2018 shirin neshat shirin on shirin duration. Available for sale from leila heller gallery, shirin neshat, salah patriots, from the book of kings series 2012, ink on le silver gelatin print, 152. Written between 977 and 1010 ad, the persian book of kings, is irans great national epic poem that preserves the legendary and historic past of iran before its islamic. In her upcoming project, neshat will present a new series of photographs and a. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Her father was a wellrespected physician and her mother a homemaker.
She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography. Hope and worry mingle as countries relax coronavirus lockdowns. Shirin neshat s zarin ran at barbara gladstone through november 12, 2005, laurie anderson at sean kelly through october 22, and jonathan horowitz at yvon lambert through november 12. A total of 56 black and white photographs, framed in black and unmatted, and hung in the main gallery space, the reception hallway, and a smaller side room. Jan 31, 2012 throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. Shirin neshat, rapture, 1999, twochannel videoaudio installation, 16mm film transferred to video, the broad art foundation. Shirin neshat was born to a wealthy family from qazvin, a small city two hours from tehran, in 1957. War of words reorient middle eastern arts and culture. Shirin neshat moved to the united states during the iranian revolution 1979 and studied fine arts. Throughout most of neshats career, she has been exiled from iran, an outside observer of islamic laws increasing effects on the countrys women and daily life. Incorporating archival material to contextualize her practice, the show confronts. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. The renowned shahnameh or book of kings, an epic poem written in 1010 ce by the iranian poet hakim abulqasim mansur later known as.
As in her first series, this calligraphic foray is the link that binds neshat with her country, with tradition, with popular culture and ancient persian history. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the hirshhorn. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in black.
Jun 15, 2001 shirin neshat s determination to undermine western assumptions about middle eastern women has resulted in an already substantial body of astounding and profound work. Though their nonwestern iconography may at first disorient the viewer, these pictures have a boldly stylized look that is utterly compelling. Here is the translation of the poem, i will greet the sun again, from neshats book. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist who was born in qazvin, iran, educated in berkeley, california and is currently based in new york. May 11, 2015 shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. Best known for her work in photography, film and video, neshat creates stark visual contrasts that offer glimpses into the social, cultural and religious codes of muslim societies. In 1990, neshat returned to visit iran and found a changed country. Neshat s new photography series the book of kings is inspired by the 60,000verse epic poem, shahnameh book of kings, by the 11th century poet ferdowsi, which chronicled the history of iran through the 7th century islamic conquest of persia. Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. Neshats series returned to gladstone through february 23, 2008. Iranianborn artist shirin neshat explores the paradox of being an artist in exile. Similarly, book of kings brings to the foreground neshat s continued concern with the loss of traditions that fall outside the islamist endorsements of cultural production. Its written all over their faces the washington post. Shirin neshat and fereydoun aves the book of kings exhibition.
These images wrest emotional, aesthetic and political freedom from the dominant patriarchal culture, whether it be the colonialist west or fundamentalist iran. Neshat, persona non grata in iran due to her art, created the photographs. This is turbulent by shirin neshat by video art resource on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Apr 29, 2020 shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist who lives in new york city. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in. Artist shirin neshat began to explore the question of identity after moving from her native iran to new york, where she has lived in what she defines as selfimposed exile for most of her adult life. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline.
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