Iranian exile shirin neshats new exhibition expresses the. The iran she knows is filled with poetry and mysticism. Veiled women brandish guns in defiant stances, with arabic calligraphy drawn upon the background of the photos. Neshats new photography series the book of kings is inspired by the 60,000verse epic poem, shahnameh book of kings, by the 11thcentury poet ferdowsi, which chronicled the history of iran through the 7thcentury islamic conquest of persia. The book of kings series shirin neshat s large photo series the book of kings is inspired by the 60,000verse poem shahnameh the book of kings from the eleventh century by the persian poet ferdowsi, today still the great narrative of persian history up to the islamic conquest of persia in the seventh century. May 3, 2015 shirin neshat, nida patriots, from the book of kings series. Its written all over their faces the washington post. Neshat made a lovely choice in her text for this image, which imbues it with layers of paradox and discovery. Sussan deyhim in logic of the birds, a multimedia performance.
Similarly, book of kings brings to the foreground neshats continued concern with the loss of traditions that fall outside the islamist endorsements of cultural production. Discover book depositorys huge selection of shirin neshat books online. 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. The book of kings marks neshat s return to blackandwhite photography. At the age of seventeen, she relocated to the united states to complete her education. In this book and the exhibition it accompanies, shirin neshat born 1957 looks at the connections between ancient history and the politics of the present in works that employ photography, calligraphy, poetry and filmmaking to explore the primal concepts of. Shirin neshat moved to the united states during the iranian revolution 1979 and studied fine arts. Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. 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. The exhibit, the book of kings, was inspired by the wave of political uprisings throughout. Shirin neshat biography childhood, life achievements. She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography. She obtained her ba, ma, and mfa at uc berkeley and moved to new york city in 1983.
Shoja azari yousefi shirin neshat music composed by. One portrait on view, ibrahim 2012, belongs to a part of the book of kings series neshat calls the patriots. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. The dancer mikhail baryshnikov and the visual artist shirin neshat are among the five winners of this years prestigious praemium imperiale award given by the japan art association. Neshats ibrahim patriots, from the book of kings series, 2012. 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. The iranian revolution marooned her stateside in 1979.
The gladstone gallery and the faurschou foundation in beijing, china are just some of the art spaces that have had the pleasure of exhibiting shirin neshats the book of kings. As an iranian woman, shirin neshats startling photographs convey a power that is more than merely exotic. Shirin neshat national museum of women in the arts. The shahnameh is a collection of stories and myths from ancient iran, filled with kings, heroes, princesses, magical animals and demons. 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. 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. One of the most exciting and important young artists of the past decade, ira. 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. Neshat found inspiration in stories from participants in the arab spring in 2011 and protesters from the iranian green movement in 2009.
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. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. 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. Shirin neshat mosaeb masses, from the book of kings. Written as an epic poem by the poet ferdowsi in the 10th century, it is one of the great classics of persian literature.
We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Shirin neshat and mikhail baryshnikov among praemium. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist who was born in qazvin, iran, educated in berkeley, california and is currently based in new york. The exhibition features a new body of photography works and a video. 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 conquest in the seventh century.
Iranian, born 1957 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. Throughout most of neshats career, she has been exiled from iran, an outside observer of islamic laws. Shirin neshats determination to undermine western assumptions about middle eastern women has resulted in an already substantial body of astounding and profound work. Shirin neshat, courtesy of gladstone gallery, new york and brussels giving the voiceless a voice i look at the question of oppression, and how those who are living in a repressive situation such as in iran and subversive ways of being vocal, and i take off from that. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring. Here is the translation of the poem, i will greet the sun again, from neshats book.
Shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012. The 6th hiroshima art prize, hiroshima city museum of contemporary art, hiroshima, japan. I ranian artist shirin neshats soliloquy, a new doublescreen colour film, and turbulent, her trilogy of doublescreen films also showing at londons serpentine gallery, form the best. Faurschou foundation beijing is pleased to present shirin neshats the book of kings. 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. The figure meets the viewers gaze with his right hand placed over his heart. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist and activist.
Her father was a wellrespected physician and her mother a homemaker. Available for sale from leila heller gallery, shirin neshat, mosaeb masses, from the book of kings series 2012, ink on le silver gelatin print, 101. 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. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Shirin neshat born march 26, 1957 in qazvin, iran is an iranian visual artist who lives in new york. 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. Neshat also approaches the body as the place where history is inscribed in the series of photographs she has produced using the persian book of kings as a starting point. Exiled iranian artist shirin neshat looks at the egyptian.
These images wrest emotional, aesthetic and political freedom from the dominant patriarchal culture, whether it be the colonialist west or fundamentalist iran. Throughout most of neshats career, she has been exiled from iran, an outside observer of the increasing rigors of islamic laws effect on the countrys women and daily life. Yann mingard everything is up in the air, thus our vertigo. The exhibit, the book of kings, was inspired by the wave of political uprisings. Gladstone gallery is pleased to announce our fifth exhibition with shirin neshat. In her upcoming project, neshat will present a new series of photographs and a. Her earliest work as a photographer was born out of a. Like most revolutions, however, the series of events that. Portrait of shirin neshat rodolfo martinez born in iran in 1957, neshat came to the united states as a teenager to study. The book of kings photographs, for example, recall the green movement, in which dozens, if not hundreds of people were killed, many more. Shirin neshat biographyneshat is a female visual artist, born in iran and educated in america where she currently resides. Neshat has strived to become an influential artist, winning awards such as best director at the 66th venice film. Shirin neshat on directing looking for oum kulthum and making art in exile duration.
Incorporating archival material to contextualize her practice, the show confronts. Nearing the twentieth anniversary of her new york debut, shirin neshat, in her recent exhibition at gladstone gallery, book of kings, adeptly. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in. 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. Written on the body by shirin neshat the strength of. Shirin neshat provokes a more complex conversation about iran and the united states than has been possible in decades past. 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. Shirin neshat was born to a wealthy family from qazvin, a small city two hours from tehran, in 1957. Though their nonwestern iconography may at first disorient the viewer, these pictures have a boldly stylized look that is utterly compelling. Interviews with iranian filmmaker and artist shirin neshat. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the. Facing history is the companion volume to the smithsonians hirshhorn museum exhibition of the same name. The exhibition, she explains in an interview with voa persian tvs behnam nateghi, is about power and peoples relationship to power, which she sees as.
This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline. 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. Neshats depth of consideration will be materially evidenced in facing history, a show at the hirshhorn gallery in washington, dc, later this year, that will include her notes and research materials from newspaper clippings to interview notes to her original copy of the ancient book of kings as well as historical footage, alongside. Shirin neshats instagram profile has 505 photos and videos. Shirin neshat is an iranianborn visual artist who has made her home countrys turbulent history the subject of high art. Shirin neshats powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native iran. In the aftermath of the sixyear effort involved in making women without men, neshat returned to monochrome portraiture. But that is not the world that shirin neshat knows. Shirin neshats photographs and videos address individual freedoms under attack from or repressed by social ideologies. Exiled artist shirin neshats first film is about the lives of four women in her native iran but it wont get past the countrys censors sun jun 2010 17.
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. War of words reorient middle eastern arts and culture. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. Facing history, hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden, washington, d. In her fifth solo exhibit at new yorks gladstone gallery, artist shirin neshat sets up her first ever photo installation.
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