The book of kings is the ninth book of the hebrew bible or the eleventh and twelfth books of the christian old testament. Oct 5, 20 shirin neshat in her studio working on roja from the book of kings series photo. 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, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012. These images wrest emotional, aesthetic and political freedom from the dominant patriarchal culture, whether it be the colonialist west or fundamentalist iran. The book of kings marks neshat s return to blackandwhite photography. Shirin neshat best known for her videos, photographies and films and fereydoun ave for his mix media works on paper. But that is not the world that shirin neshat knows.
The calligraphic details were elaborate and were placed across the bare chest of the male subjects like tattoos. Facing history is the companion volume to the smithsonians hirshhorn museum exhibition of the same name. Sep 12, 2012 shirin neshat has lived much of her life outside her native iran. Shirin neshat the book of kings galleri faurschou beijing, beijing shirin neshat the detroit institute of arts, detroit, mi. Artist shirin neshat challenges the idea of muslim women. Shirin neshat was born to a wealthy family from qazvin, a small city two hours from tehran, in 1957. Only in 1990, eleven years after the founding of the islamic republic, did she visit iran again. She is a director and actress, known for zanane bedune mardan 2009, looking for oum kulthum 2017 and land of dreams. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the hirshhorn. Neshat has strived to become an influential artist, winning awards such as best director at the 66th venice film. Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Shirin neshat and fereydoun aves the book of kings. Incorporating archival material to contextualize her practice, the.
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. 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. Shirin neshat s most popular book is women without men. The historic rupture of the 1979 islamic revolution in iran changed her life and creative practice.
Her work interweaves an austere yet sensuous visual language with music. 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. Incorporating archival material to contextualize her practice, the show confronts. Its written all over their faces the washington post. 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. Her father was a wellrespected physician and her mother a homemaker. 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. Shirin neshat and turbulent, 1998 the outsiders exhibiting. Neshat discusses the art shes made in response to irans green revolution and to the arab spring. The exhibition features a new body of photography works and a video installation by the internationally acclaimed iranian artist. She is known primarily for her work in film, video and photography. 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.
Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. The exhibit, the book of kings, was inspired by the wave of. Shirin neshats rapture 1999 is a twelveminute videoandsound installation, shot in blackandwhite. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist and activist. The iran she knows is filled with poetry and mysticism. Its an epic book of poems, mythological, about persia before the islamic conquest, and there were all these people getting beheaded, wars, and. Shirin neshat mosaeb masses, from the book of kings. 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. 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. The book of kings series 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. 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. Her photographs and films offer a glimpse of the cultural, religious and political realities that shape the identities of muslim. Iranian exile shirin neshats new exhibition expresses 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. At the age of seventeen, she relocated to the united states to complete her education. 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. 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. Gladstone gallery specializes in modern and contemporary art with locations in new york and brussels.
Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and. 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. Although her work has never been exhibited in her own home country, she has gained international recognition. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based 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. May 09, 2014 shirin neshat biographyneshat is a female visual artist, born in iran and educated in america where she currently resides. In the 1990s, shirin neshat s startling blackandwhite videos of iranian women won enormous praise for t. Shirin neshat has 28 books on goodreads with 1594 ratings. The book of kings is the epic poems written in the c10th by ferdowsi in tus comparable to homers iliad. 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. Born on march 26, 1957 in qazin, iran, she left to study in the united states at the university of california at berkeley before her the iranian revolution in 1979.
May 15, 2015 its painful to say that, because neshats early work is so successful. 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 neshat born in iran, shirin neshat moved to the us in 1974, where she studied art. 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 was born on march 26, 1957 in ghazvin, iran. May 11, 2015 shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. Shirin neshats photographs and videos address individual freedoms under attack from or repressed by social ideologies.
Pirelli calendar 2016 calendar pirelli 2017 natalia vodianova famous photographers portrait photographers shirin neshat annie leibovitz photography amy schumer. The photographs consisted of three groups of largescale black and white pictures. In 2009, neshat made her first feature film titled woman without men, and was awarded with silver lion prize for best director at the 66th venice international film festival. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. 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. 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. Her artwork centers on the contrasts between islam and the west, femininity and masculinity, public life and private life, antiquity and modernity. 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. 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. I will greet the sun again is the largest exhibition to date of internationally acclaimed artist shirin neshat s approximately 30year career. Neshat s series returned to gladstone through february 23, 2008. The exhibit, the book of kings, was inspired by the wave of political uprisings throughout the arab world last year. 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.
She who tells a story is an exhibit at the museum of fine arts, boston. In 1990, neshat returned to visit iran and found a changed country. 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. 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. Neshat found inspiration in stories from participants in the arab spring in 2011 and protesters from the iranian green movement in 2009. 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 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.
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. 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. One portrait on view, ibrahim 2012, belongs to a part of the book of kings series neshat calls the patriots. It deals with mythological persian archetypes, kings, lovers, demons, heroes. 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. 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. 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. 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 book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing posted by paul shortt. Neshat s current photo series include the book of kings 2012, our.
Shirin neshat born 1957 qazvin, iran lives and works in new york download biography. Shirin neshat born march 26, 1957 in qazvin, iran is an iranian visual artist who lives in new york. 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. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. 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. 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 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. She obtained her ba, ma, and mfa at uc berkeley and moved to new york city in 1983. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Inspired to create her bestknown photographic series women of allah 199397, neshat wrote verses by contemporary iranian women writers across the. Shirin neshat s the book of kings series of political uprisings, now commonly known as the arab spring, took place throughout different arab countries between 2011 and 2012.
Like most revolutions, however, the series of events that. She gained international prominence with women of allah 1995. Oct 21, 20 shirin neshat is an iranian artist and filmmaker. Shirin neshat nida patriots, 2012, from the book of kings the villains lastly, the villains category of the series consisted of pictures of older men. In 1993, after living in the united states for almost 20 years, neshat now 58 started making photographs of women with. See actions taken by the people who manage and post content. In her fifth solo exhibit at new yorks gladstone gallery, artist shirin neshat sets up her first ever photo installation. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in. 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. While her early photographs were overtly political, her film narratives tend to be more abstract, focusing around themes of gender, identity, and society. 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. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the.
On one screen, the viewer sees the silhouette of a seaside fortress. Aves contribution to the exhibition is in the form of various series of the book of kings, which he has done over the years using predominantly the mythological character of rostam as the central protagonist. The book of kings, faurschou foundation, beijing shirin neshat, detroit institute of arts, detroit, michigan. Shirin neshat, roja the book of kings, 2012, ink on le gelatin. 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. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Since her 1994 series women of allah, shirin neshat born 1957 has been exp. Shirin neshat, roja the book of kings, ink on le gelatin silver print 60 x 45 in. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. These include the various photographic series neshat. 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.
1144 1142 1102 285 195 821 1537 1325 114 1314 1229 20 898 1454 43 175 1051 1537 1069 744 89 249 162 187 114 627 1168 234 1030 121 1101 142 609