Shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012. Neshats ibrahim patriots, from the book of kings series, 2012. May 18, 2015 artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in black and white the iranianborn visual artist has made her home countrys turbulent history the subject of high art. One of the most exciting and important young artists of the past decade, iranianborn shirin neshat has addressed issues of nation, colonialism, and gender in a variety of media, always challenging our preconceptions about art and society. 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. Opening in johannesburg this week, dreamers is a new show by iranian artist and film maker shirin neshat. Neshat made a lovely choice in her text for this image, which imbues it with layers of paradox and discovery. She grew up in a westernized, upper middle class family in iran and attended college in the u. This thesis analyzes shirin neshats women of allah photographs by exploring key sociopolitical events that have shaped iranian history since the. Shirin neshat moved to the united states during the iranian revolution 1979 and studied fine arts. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. The dancer mikhail baryshnikov and the visual artist shirin neshat are among the five winners of this years prestigious praemium imperiale award. As an iranian woman, shirin neshats startling photographs convey a power that is more than merely exotic.
May 15, 20 shirin neshat s solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of photography works and. Facing history ho, melissa, afkhami, mahnaz, chiu, melissa on. Gladstone gallery specializes in modern and contemporary art with locations in new york and brussels. Shirin neshat has 28 books on goodreads with 1594 ratings. I was really immersed in the arab spring and have even done a piece of work called the book of kings, which was about.
Born in qazvin, she left iran at the age of sixteen to study in the united states. 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 the essence of firdowsis epic poem the book of kings. This beautiful volume presents an array of neshats most compelling works and illuminates the points at which cultural and political events have inflected her artistic practice. 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. Her father was a physician, and both her parents were recognized as uppermiddle class and intellectual. 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 of power within sociocultural structures. Shirin neshat born march 26, 1957 in qazvin, iran is an iranian visual artist who lives in new york. 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.
Neshat borrowed the title of her series from the shahnameh book of kings, an epic persian poem written a thousand years ago by the poet ferdowsi. But i am its secret, by the iranianborn photographer and artist shirin neshat which shows a veiled muslim woman who is neshat herself staring intently into the camera, her skin covered with a swirl of black and red farsi script attracted more than the usual. 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. These images wrest emotional, aesthetic and political freedom from the dominant patriarchal culture, whether it be the colonialist west or fundamentalist iran. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of photography works and. She is an iranian video and installation artist who explores the political and social conditions of iranian and muslim life in. Shirin neshats startling films take life in iran and turn it into something poetic. Shirin neshat, roja the book of kings, 2012, ink on le gelatin.
Shirin neshat mosaeb masses, from the book of kings. The epic narrates the deeds of legendary and historical kings of iran, including tales of heroes and villains. Its painful to say that, because neshats early work is so successful. Shirin neshat is perhaps the bestknown artist of the iranian diaspora following the 1979 revolution, which replaced a secular regime with an islamic republic. Shirin neshats the book of kings feature calligraphy writings on portraits the artist took of participants of the arab spring. Shirin neshat biography childhood, life achievements. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. Shirin neshat, anna, from the home of my eyes series, 2015 silver gelatin print and ink, 152. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices.
Its written all over their faces the washington post. She who tells a story is an exhibit at the museum of fine arts, boston. Since her 1994 series women of allah, shirin neshat born 1957 has been exploring the status of muslim women, dealing with both their search for cultural identity and the prejudices they must confront in the west. Although her work has never been exhibited in her own home country, she has gained international recognition. She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography.
Shirin neshat biographyneshat is a female visual artist, born in iran and educated in america where she currently resides. 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. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in black and white the iranianborn visual artist has made her home countrys turbulent history the. 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. Although based in new york, most of her inspiration comes from her native home. 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. Shirin neshats photographs and videos address individual freedoms under attack from or repressed by social ideologies.
Shirin neshat explores the world of dreams in johannesburg. Shirin neshat national museum of women in the arts. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. In this book, through a selection of her photographs, short films and video. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of.
Shirin neshats powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native iran. 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. In 2012 shirin neshat had a solo exhibition in singapore, game of desire at art plural gallery. Neshats 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. A major retrospective of neshat s work, organized by the detroit institute of arts, was scheduled to open in 20. Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. Her father was a wellrespected physician and her mother a homemaker. Both are part of a trilogy of video installations exploring the world of womens dreams the first. Shirin neshat born 1957 qazvin, iran lives and works in new york download biography. Shirin neshat talks about her new work art and design. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. 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.
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. Oct 21, 20 shirin neshat is an iranian artist and filmmaker. May 15, 2015 its painful to say that, because neshats early work is so successful. Shirin neshat, rebellious silence, women of allah series, 1994, black and white rc print and ink, photo by cynthia preston shirin neshat courtesy barbara gladstone gallery, new york and brussels the women of allah series confronts this paradoxical reality through a haunting suite of blackandwhite images. Gladstone gallery is pleased to announce our fifth exhibition with shirin neshat.
The book of kings, faurschou foundation, beijing shirin neshat, detroit institute of arts, detroit, michigan. 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. Shirin neshat s most popular book is women without men. Shirin neshats photographs and video installations explore the cultural issues that shape her native iran, with particular emphasis on the experience of women. In her fifth solo exhibit at new yorks gladstone gallery, artist shirin neshat sets up her first ever photo installation. Shirin neshats 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.
Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in. Qazvin is approximately two hours north of the capital city of tehran, and near the elburz mountain range. May 11, 2015 shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. The faurschou foundation beijing is honored to present shirin neshats the book of kings. Jan 31, 2012 throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. At the age of seventeen, she relocated to the united states to complete her education.
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. Exiled iranian artist shirin neshat looks at the egyptian revolution. 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, irish museum of modern art, dublin shirin neshat, patrick painter, santa monica, california shirin neshat, barbara gladstone gallery, new york shirin neshat, kanazawa contemporary art museum, kanazawa, japan shirin neshat, hamburger kunsthalle, hamburg, germany. Facing history presents an array of neshats most compelling works, illuminating the points at which cultural and political events have impacted her artistic practice. Irans foremost female artist tells art radar how she uses art to explore fundamental human truths iranianborn artist shirin neshat and christy maclear, the executive director of the robert rauschenberg foundation, speak to art radar about the foundations new onetoone artist initiative, the current exhibition our house is on fire in new york city, and neshats internationally.
Facing history is the companion volume to the smithsonians hirshhorn museum exhibition of the same name. Here is the translation of the poem, i will greet the sun again, from neshats book. Iranian artist shirin neshat on art, politics and changing. The exhibition features a new body of photography works and a video. May 09, 2014 shirin neshat biographyneshat is a female visual artist, born in iran and educated in america where she currently resides.
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. In 1993, after living in the united states for almost 20 years, neshat now 58 started making photographs of women with. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. 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. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts. Neshat left iran in 1974, aged 17, to study art at the. 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.
Veiled women brandish guns in defiant stances, with arabic calligraphy drawn upon the background of the photos. Shirin neshat, rebellious silence, women of allah series. She is an iranian video and installation artist who explores the political and social conditions of iranian and muslim life in her works, particularly focusing on women and feminist issues. At that time, neshat began to photograph herself wearing the chador, or veil. Shirin neshat was born on march 26, 1957 in the city of qazvin, iran. Interweaving history, poetry and politics, the series is set against the backdrop of the recent arab spring, and the iranian green movement, which brought hundreds of thousands onto the streets across iran in june of 2009 in protest against corrupt power. 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. May 17, 2010 we publish many striking images in the arts feature that accompanies our fiction and nonfiction chronicle columns. 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 her upcoming project, neshat will present a new series of photographs and a. Shirin neshat and mikhail baryshnikov among praemium. To investigate the richness of garden spaces for feminist communication scholars, i offer a narrative analysis of shirin neshats women without men that focuses on the role of the garden as a. The book of kings, january february 11, 2012 27 2012.
She obtained her ba, ma, and mfa at uc berkeley and moved to new york city in 1983. Exiled iranian artist shirin neshat looks at the egyptian. As an iranian woman, shirin neshat s startling photographs convey a power that is more than merely exotic. Though their nonwestern iconography may at first disorient the viewer, these pictures have a boldly stylized look that is utterly compelling. Discover book depositorys huge selection of shirin neshat books online. Neshat has strived to become an influential artist, winning awards such as best director at the 66th venice film. 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.
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. 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. 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. Her first solo exhibition with the goodman gallery and on the african continent sees the introduction of two new video installations, roja and sarah, created this year. 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 was born to a wealthy family from qazvin, a small city two hours from tehran, in 1957. Shirin neshat and turbulent, 1998 the outsiders exhibiting.
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