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. 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. Join facebook to connect with shirin neshat and others you may know. Qazvin, 1957 examines the nuances of power and identity in the islamic worldparticularly in her native country of iran, where she lived until 1975. The exhibition features a new body of photography works and a video. Iranianborn artist shirin neshat explores the paradox of being an artist in exile. Shirin neshats powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native 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. Shirin neshat, anna, from the home of my eyes series, 2015 silver gelatin print and ink, 152. 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.
On one screen, the viewer sees the silhouette of a seaside fortress. The use of the written word in the art of shirin neshat and lalla essaydi. 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. Though their nonwestern iconography may at first disorient the viewer, these pictures have a boldly stylized look that is utterly compelling. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. Here is the translation of the poem, i will greet the sun again, from neshats book. 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. Exiled iranian artist shirin neshat looks at the egyptian. Nearing the twentieth anniversary of her new york debut, shirin neshat, in her recent exhibition at gladstone gallery, book of kings, adeptly. Shirin neshat moved to the united states during the iranian revolution 1979 and studied fine arts. Shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012.
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. This thesis analyzes shirin neshats women of allah photographs by exploring key sociopolitical events that have shaped iranian history since the. At the age of seventeen, she relocated to the united states to complete her education. Facing history presents an array of neshats most compelling works, illuminating the points at which cultural and political events have impacted her artistic. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. 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. She who tells a story is an exhibit at the museum of fine arts, boston. Veiled women brandish guns in defiant stances, with arabic calligraphy drawn upon the background of the photos.
Available for sale from goodman gallery, shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series 2012, ink on le silver gelatin print, 101. 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 neshat s the book of kings. Shirin neshat panteha masses, from the book of kings. Women without men is released by eye distribution 10 june 2010. Shirin neshat born in qazvin, iran, in 1957, shirin neshat. As an iranian woman, shirin neshats startling photographs convey a power that is more than merely exotic. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in black and white the iranianborn visual artist has made her home countrys turbulent history the. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring.
Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the. These images wrest emotional, aesthetic and political freedom from the dominant patriarchal culture, whether it be the colonialist west or fundamentalist iran. 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. Shirin neshat and lalla essaydi, two artists known for their use of calligraphy, add linguistic layers of coding to.
Although based in new york, most of her inspiration comes from her native home. 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. 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. While often perceived as a purely aural element, the word is as important a visual tool in politicallymotivated art. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of. Shirin neshat is perhaps the bestknown artist of the iranian diaspora following the 1979 revolution, which replaced a secular regime with an islamic republic. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts. 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. Shirin neshat mosaeb masses, from the book of kings. In her upcoming project, neshat will present a new series of photographs and a. The faurschou foundation beijing is honored to present shirin neshats the book of kings. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery.
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. Shirin neshat was born to a wealthy family from qazvin, a small city two hours from tehran, in 1957. Neshat made a lovely choice in her text for this image, which imbues it with layers of paradox and discovery. Neshat found inspiration in stories from participants in the arab spring in 2011 and protesters from the iranian green movement in 2009. Shirin neshat national museum of women in the arts. 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. Shirin neshats photographs and videos address individual freedoms under attack from or repressed by social ideologies. Gladstone gallery is pleased to announce our fifth exhibition with shirin neshat. 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. 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. She obtained her ba, ma, and mfa at uc berkeley and moved to new york city in 1983. Facing history is the companion volume to the smithsonians hirshhorn museum exhibition of the same name.
Xray photographs on lightboxes, newspapers, and mixed media, dimensions variable. 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. Nearing the twentieth anniversary of her new york debut, shirin neshat, in her recent exhibition at gladstone gallery, book of kings, adeptly challenges and speculation about her works currency or its resonance. Discover book depositorys huge selection of shirin neshat books online.
Shirin neshat, roja the book of kings, ink on le gelatin silver print 60 x 45 in. In this book, through a selection of her photographs, short films and video. 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. Gladstone gallery specializes in modern and contemporary art with locations in new york and brussels.
Shirin neshats the book of kings feature calligraphy writings on portraits the artist took of participants of the arab spring. Shirin neshats determination to undermine western assumptions about middle eastern women has resulted in an already substantial body of astounding and profound work. Shirin neshats instagram profile has 505 photos and videos. Shirin neshat and mikhail baryshnikov among praemium. Iranian exile shirin neshats new exhibition expresses the. 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. In 1993, after living in the united states for almost 20 years, neshat now 58 started making photographs of women with. 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. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. These works were once again exhibited as a solo exhibition, shirin neshat. I was really immersed in the arab spring and have even done a piece of work called the book of kings, which was about. Its painful to say that, because neshats early work is so successful. Exiled iranian artist shirin neshat looks at the egyptian revolution.
Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. Interview with shirin neshat, director of the film women without men. In her fifth solo exhibit at new yorks gladstone gallery, artist shirin neshat sets up her first ever photo installation. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist and activist. In her mesmerizing films and photographs, shirin neshat iranianamerican, b. Later, her significant photographic works, the book of kings, were shown at the foundations copenhagen space during the group exhibition, i look at things, in 2012. The book of kings marks neshat s return to blackandwhite photography. Shirin neshats rapture 1999 is a twelveminute videoandsound installation, shot in blackandwhite.
The exhibit, the book of kings, was inspired by the wave of political uprisings throughout. 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. Born in qazvin, she left iran at the age of sixteen to study in the united states. Like most revolutions, however, the series of events that. 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. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet.
Iranian artist shirin neshat on art, politics and changing. Shirin neshat born 1957 qazvin, iran lives and works in new york download biography. Shirin neshat biography childhood, life achievements. Its written all over their faces the washington post. In her work, she explores iran pre and postislamic revolution, tracing political and societal change through powerful images of women. The book of kings, faurschou foundation, beijing shirin neshat, detroit institute of arts, detroit, michigan. 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. 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. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Shirin neshat, a slight woman with heavy eyeliner, stood against a wall displaying 45 of her photographic portraitsthe faces were covered with inscriptions of farsi poetry. War of words reorient middle eastern arts and culture. One portrait on view, ibrahim 2012, belongs to a part of the book of kings series neshat calls the patriots.