View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. In 2009, neshat made her first feature length film, woman without men, and was awarded with silver lion prize for best director in the venice international film festival. May 11, 2015 shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. Shirin neshats the home of my eyes solo exhibition by. Shirin neshat was born to a wealthy family from qazvin, a small city two hours from tehran, in 1957. 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. Iranian exile shirin neshats new exhibition expresses the. Shirin neshat in her studio working on roja from the book. Shirin neshat and turbulent, 1998 the outsiders exhibiting. Shirin neshat, nida patriots, from the book of kings series. 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. Inspired to create her bestknown photographic series women of allah 199397, neshat wrote verses by contemporary iranian women writers across the. Shirin neshat mosaeb masses, from the book of kings.
Interviews with iranian filmmaker and artist shirin neshat. 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. It deals with mythological persian archetypes, kings, lovers, demons, heroes. But that is not the world that shirin neshat knows. Shirin neshat s instagram profile has 505 photos and videos. 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. 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 violence, passion and love that drive human history. Like most revolutions, however, the series of events that. 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.
Published in 2015 on the occasion of the exhibition shirin neshat. 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. On guard 1998 national museum of women in the arts. Shirin neshat marta gnyp for the book you, me and art, march 2018. Shirin neshats powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native iran. Khaled hosseinis the kite runner, and shirin neshat s book of kings series of portraits. Here is the translation of the poem, i will greet the sun again, from neshats book. She who tells a story is an exhibit at the museum of fine arts, boston. Shirin neshat, muhammed patriots, from the book of kings series, 2012. Although based in new york, most of her inspiration comes from her native home. Neshats current photo series include the book of kings 2012, our house is on fire 20, and the home of my eyes 2015. The book of kings is the epic poems written in the c10th by ferdowsi in tus comparable to homers iliad.
However, the piece is actually about the countrys wealth of malefemale contrasts, as it is suggested through the body language of the performers, setting, camera work, as well as the. Oct 21, 20 shirin neshat is an iranian artist and filmmaker. 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. Facing history, hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden, washington, d. Written on the body, espacio fundacion telefonica, madrid shirin neshat, dirimart, istanbul the book of kings, faurschou foundation, beijing shirin neshat, detroit institute of. May 09, 2014 shirin neshat biographyneshat is a female visual artist, born in iran and educated in america where she currently resides. Was regelmatig je handen en blijf op voldoende afstand van anderen. Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. Although her work has never been exhibited in her own home country, she has gained international recognition. War of words reorient middle eastern arts and culture. Facing history contextualizes the artists work around the 1953 ouster of prime minister mohammad mosaddeq, the 1979 revolution that brought ayatollah khomeini to power and.
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. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the hirshhorn. In her video works, swarms of women in black hijabs ululate, a man in a white dress shirt and black pants sings to an allmale audience. Its written all over their faces the washington post. 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. Portrait of shirin neshat rodolfo martinez born in iran in 1957, neshat came to the united states as a teenager to study. Incorporating archival material to contextualize her practice, the. Muhammed patriots, from the book of kings series, 2012 ink on le silver gelatin print work. Shirin neshat shu department of art student resources. 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. 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 best known for her videos, photographies and films and fereydoun ave for his mix media works on paper.
Courtesy of gladstone gallery, new york and brussels courtesy of gladstone gallery, new york and brussels. May 18, 2015 shirin neshat is an iranianborn visual artist who has made her home countrys turbulent history the subject of high art. In shirin neshat s photographs, persian calligraphic script is transcribed over black and white depictions of the exposed faces, hands, and feet of iranian women. Iranian artist shirin neshat on art, politics and changing. 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. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Jun, 2010 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.
Incorporating archival material to contextualize her practice, the show confronts. Artist shirin neshat challenges the idea of muslim women. She obtained her ba, ma, and mfa at uc berkeley and moved to new york city in 1983. Gladstone gallery is pleased to announce our fifth exhibition with shirin neshat. Other largescale photographic installations in the broad show will include works from the artists series the book of kings 2012 and our. Only in 1990, eleven years after the founding of the islamic republic, did she visit iran again. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist and activist.
This is a book ive used in a big way, she said, opening the pages of a large vintage book. Facing history presents an array of neshat s most compelling works, illuminating the points at which cultural and political events have impacted her artistic practice. Shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012. Lets start with your most recent project, your film looking for oum kulthum. Facing history presents an array of neshats most compelling works, illuminating the points at which cultural and political events have impacted her artistic practice. Shirin neshat initially came to the united states in 1975 to complete her education, the iranian revolution 197879, followed by the iraniraq war 198088, compelled her to remain abroad.
In 1990, neshat returned to visit iran and found a changed country. The iranian revolution marooned her stateside in 1979. I will greet the sun again features these works, as well as her most recent work, land of dreams 2019, which makes its global debut in the exhibition. Neshat has strived to become an influential artist, winning awards such as best director at the 66th venice film. 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. Shirin neshat born march 26, 1957 in qazvin, iran is an iranian visual artist who lives in new york. Shirin neshat neshat s mourners from her the book of kings series, which is inspired by the epic shahnameh by ferdowsi 9401020, are based on portraits of individuals residing in the slums of cairo, where the promise of freedom and democracy following the uprising against the hosni mubarak regime failed to materialize. The book of kings is the ninth book of the hebrew bible or the eleventh and twelfth books of the christian old testament.
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. Neshats challenging photographs, videos and multimedia installations have been well received with many galleries and curators of major international art exhibitions, including the venice biennale, where she won the top prize in 1999. 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. 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. Iranianborn artist shirin neshat explores the paradox of being an artist in exile. Shirin neshat, ibrahim patriots, from the series the book of kings, 2012.
The iran she knows is filled with poetry and mysticism. Artist shirin neshat is mining her personal history to make a film. 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 neshats photographs and videos address individual freedoms under attack from or repressed by social ideologies. As shahnameh cast the islamic conquest of persia as a tragedy, so the book of kings commemorates the countless masses of unknown citizens who courageously sacrificed themselves in the name of. These include the various photographic series neshat. Gladstone gallery specializes in modern and contemporary art with locations in new york and brussels. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of. This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline.
Neshat, who was born in the medieval capital of qazvin in northern iran, came to the u. Shirin neshat my house is on fire, from the book of kings series, 2012. All agnes denes aida sulova ai weiwei alexis rockman alex janvier alfredo jaar ana mendieta andy. Taking its title from a poem by iranian poet forugh farrokhzad, the exhibition which presents over 230 photographs and eight immersive video installations works offers a rare glimpse into.
See more ideas about shirin neshat, photography and iranian art. Turbulent, and passage, monumental photography installations including the book of kings and the home of my eyes, and land of dreams, a new, ambitious work. Detail view shirin neshat women in history art history artistic photography portrait photography naher osten modern photographers visual and performing arts iranian art. Inspired to create her bestknown photographic series women of allah 199397, neshat wrote verses by contemporary iranian women writers across the surface of her. Shirin neshat, anna, from the home of my eyes series, 2015 silver gelatin print and ink, 152. Five photographs, including one from neshat s women of allah series 199397, and four from the book of kings 2012 are included in the exhibition. I went in october or november of 2012 with my collaborator, someone who always takes the photos for me, larry barnes. Ink on laserexposed silver gelatin print, 60 x 45 in courtesy of the artist and gladstone. May 17, 2010 neshat made a lovely choice in her text for this image, which imbues it with layers of paradox and discovery. Jun 08, 2015 in the aftermath of the sixyear effort involved in making women without men, neshat returned to monochrome portraiture.
Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of 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. Oct 5, 20 shirin neshat in her studio working on roja from the book of kings series photo. Shirin neshat on directing looking for oum kulthum and making art in exile duration. Neshat s series returned to gladstone through february 23, 2008. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Her father was a wellrespected physician and her mother a homemaker. Shirin neshat, the book of kings, 2012, installation view. The exhibition features a new body of photography works and a video installation by the internationally.
Shirin neshat bases turbulent on a definite political orientation, the islamic law in her home country, iran, which bars women from performing music in public. In her upcoming project, neshat will present a new series of photographs and a. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in black. 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. Panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012 ink on le silver gelatin print work. May 3, 2015 shirin neshat, nida patriots, from the book of kings series. Shirin neshat speechless women of allah series 1996.
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. In her work, she explores iran pre and postislamic revolution, tracing political and societal change through powerful images of women. 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. Shirin neshat national museum of women in the arts. Acquisitions from the 31st collectors committee weekend. In her fifth solo exhibit at new yorks gladstone gallery, artist shirin neshat sets up her first ever photo installation.
A suite of three contemporary works for the art of the middle east collection included shrin neshat s amir villains from the series the book of kings 2012, a photograph with tattoolike images derived from the shahnameh, or book of kings, the iranian national epic, which tells of ancient kings and heroes. Op onze informatiepaginas lees je waar je in deze periode op moet letten. Shirin neshat provokes a more complex conversation about iran and the united states than has been possible in decades past. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. I will greet the sun again is the largest exhibition to date of internationally acclaimed artist shirin neshat s approximately 30year career. 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. Facing history is the companion volume to the smithsonians hirshhorn museum exhibition of the same name. 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. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the. She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography. Why have you been so fascinated by this egyptian singer. At the age of seventeen, she relocated to the united states to complete her education. Internationally acclaimed artist shirin neshat takes on loaded themes in photography, film, and video works that delve into issues of gender, identity, and politics in muslim countries, and the relationship between the personal and political.
It concludes the deuteronomistic history, a history of israel also comprising the books of joshua and judges and the book of samuel, which biblical commentators believe was written to provide a theological explanation for the destruction of. The exhibit, the book of kings, was inspired by the wave of. 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. These images wrest emotional, aesthetic and political freedom from the dominant patriarchal culture, whether it be the colonialist west or fundamentalist iran. Shirin neshats the book of kings feature calligraphy writings on portraits the artist took of participants of the arab spring.
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