Facing history presents an array of neshats most compelling works, illuminating the points at which cultural and political events have impacted her artistic practice. It sets up a conversation between ave and awardwinning filmmaker and artist shirin neshat by presenting works from their independently created series titled the book of kings. 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. Five photographs, including one from neshats women of allah series 199397, and four from the book of kings 2012 are included in. The book of kings photographs, for example, recall the green movement, in which dozens, if not hundreds of people were killed, many more. 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. In her more recent series, the book of kings 2012 and our house is on fire 20, neshat responds to political events throughout the arab world, capturing the emotions of people she met after the arab spring. Shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012. Shirin neshat s book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Neshat s series returned to gladstone through february 23, 2008.
The new photographic series, titled the book of kings, is named after the ancient book shahnameh the book of kings, a long poem of epic tragedies written by the persian poet ferdowsi between c. Iranianborn, new yorkbased shirin neshat is one of the worlds most decorated living contemporary artists, having received a staggering variety of accolades that includes the silver lion from. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of photography works and a video installation by the. This photography series memorializes the recent arab spring, iranian green movement, and their mass protests against corrupt regimes, honoring. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. The renowned shahnameh or book of kings, an epic poem written in 1010 ce by the iranian poet hakim abulqasim mansur later known as.
Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. Shu department of art student resources artist index. China are just some of the art spaces that have had the pleasure of exhibiting shirin neshats the book of kings. Neshat s 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. Interweaving history, poetry and politics, the series is set against the backdrop of the recent arab spring, and the iranian green movement, which brought. These include the various photographic series neshat produced in the early 1990s and. 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. 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. Shirin neshat s series of photographs along with a video installation at gladstone gallery perpetuate her study of the underlying conditions of power wit. 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. The iran she knows is filled with poetry and mysticism. Facing history, hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden, washington, d. 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 and fereydoun aves the book of kings.
Its written all over their faces the washington post. 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. Shirin neshat, a slight woman with heavy eyeliner, stood. Shirin neshats newest photographs are a direct response to recent political events in the middle east, encompassing both. 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. The book of kings is the epic poems written in the c10th by ferdowsi in tus comparable to homers iliad. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. 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 kingdom of judah by babylon in. 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 neshats book of kings captures the faces of the arab. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring.
Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. 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. 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. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Jun 23, 2016 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. Neshat, persona non grata in iran due to her art, created the photographs to reference a broad array of important and modern political. Shirin neshat my house is on fire, from the book of kings series, 2012 shirin neshat, bonding, 1995 shirin neshat, muhammed patriots, from the book of kings series, 2012. Artist shirin neshat challenges the idea of muslim women as.
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. The new photographic series, titled the book of kings, is named after the ancient book shahnameh the book of kings, a long poem of epic tragedies written by. Courtesy of gladstone gallery, new york and brussels roja the book of kings, 2012. 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. Shirin neshat nickzad masses, from the book of kings. Faurschou foundation beijing is pleased to present shirin neshats the book of kings. Shirin neshat s powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native iran.
Shirin neshats powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native iran. Shirin neshat and fereydoun aves the book of kings exhibition. Shirin neshat, nida patriots, 2012, ink on le silver gelatin print, 60 x 45. Completed by abolqasem ferdowsi in the early 11th century, the shahnameh book of kings is not only a literary masterpiece, but also a book that has for centuries helped define iran and the. Shirin neshat poses at the dirimart gallery during the presentation of the book of kings series in istanbul in 20 getty. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. Shirin neshats solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of. 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.
Shirin neshat s rapture veiled women in their traditional islamic attire. Shirin neshat bahram villains, from the book of kings. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the hirshhorn. Martha rosler invented the semiotics of the kitchen. Was regelmatig je handen en blijf op voldoende afstand van anderen. Amir villains, from the 2012 shirin neshat series book of kings. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the. Shirin neshat moved to the united states during the iranian revolution 1979 and studied fine arts. 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.
The photographs consisted of three groups of largescale black and white pictures. Divided into three groupsthe masses, the patriots, and the villainsneshats portraits of iranian and arab youth comprise black and white photographs with. 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. Neshat s 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.
One portrait on view, ibrahim 2012, belongs to a part of the book of kings series neshat calls the patriots. Oct 23, 2019 neshat, who was born in the medieval capital of qazvin in northern iran, came to the u. Books of kings, two books of the hebrew bible or the protestant old testament that, together with deuteronomy, joshua, judges, and 1 and 2 samuel, belong to the group of historical books deuteronomic history written during the babylonian exile c. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Shirin neshat, soliloquy series, 2000, cibachrome print, the broad art foundation. Enjoy the best shirin neshat quotes at brainyquote. The exhibition features a new body of photography works and a video. 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. Panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012 ink on le silver gelatin print work.
As an artist in exile, neshat has steeped herself in irans history, literature, and political and social movements, especially the activism of women, and created elegant, melancholy, and dramatic photographs, videos, and films exploring the underlying complexities of iranian lives. Shirin neshat best known for her videos, photographies and films and fereydoun ave for his mix media works on paper. 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. May 29, 2019 the book of kings is an ancient book of iranian mythology, a long epic poem that ferdowsi wrote, in most peoples opinions, as a way to save the persian language, says neshat. May 07, 2020 shirin neshat s rapture veiled women in their traditional islamic attire. 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. In women of allah 1997, neshat portrays women in chador. The broads shirin neshat show is the most significant to. Op onze informatiepaginas lees je waar je in deze periode op moet letten. Shirin neshat national museum of women in the arts.
Inspired by political movements in the middle east, shirin neshat s the book of kings series 2012 presents portraits of 3 groups of people based on their political commitments. Neshat, persona non grata in iran due to her art, created the photographs. Nearing the twentieth anniversary of her new york debut, shirin neshat, in her recent exhibition at gladstone gallery, book of kings, adeptly. 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. May 07, 2020 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. Available for sale from leila heller gallery, shirin neshat, nickzad masses, from the book of kings series 2012, ink on le silver gelatin print, 101.
Shirin neshat s book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring riots. Neshat found inspiration in stories from participants in the arab spring in 2011 and protesters from the iranian green movement in 2009. 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. One of the main reasons that i gravitated toward the book of kings was that i was drawn to its main themes of heroism, nationalism and ultimately sacrifice, all of which seem timelessly relevant today. The book of kings marks neshat s return to blackandwhite photography. The epic narrates the deeds of legendary and historical kings of iran, including tales of heroes and villains. Interweaving history, poetry and politics, the series is set against the backdrop of the recent arab. 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. The book of kings consists of three series of large blackandwhite portraits. It deals with mythological persian archetypes, kings, lovers, demons, heroes. Shirin neshat lacma in land of dreams, you turn your attention to the. The book of kings marks neshats return to blackandwhite photography. This is a book ive used in a big way, she said, opening the pages of a large vintage book. A trip through history and legend community gulf news.
The book of kings is the ninth book of the hebrew bible or the eleventh and twelfth books of the christian old testament. 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. Jan 31, 2012 neshat references a range of historic and contemporary metaphors. 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.
Artist shirin neshat challenges the idea of muslim women. This summary of the book of 1 kings provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of 1 kings. It deals with mythological persian archetypes, kings. The name of the show comes from the ancient book of shahnameh the book of kings, a long, ancient poem of epic tragedies written by a persian poet. The broad inspired by political movements in the middle. Neshat references a range of historic and contemporary metaphors. Facing history is the companion volume to the smithsonians hirshhorn museum exhibition of the same name. Gladstone gallery specializes in modern and contemporary art with locations in new york and brussels. In her fifth solo exhibit at new yorks gladstone gallery, artist shirin neshat sets up her first ever photo installation.
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