It sets up a conversation between ave and awardwinning filmmaker and artist shirin neshat by presenting works from. The book of kings marks neshat s return to blackandwhite photography. Neil indicates this term could hardly be used if the assyrian empire had been in existence. Shirin neshat and fereydoun aves the book of kings exhibition launches in total arts dubai by rebecca anne proctor may 29 2019 20. The book of kings photographs, for example, recall the green movement, in which dozens, if not hundreds of people were killed, many more.
The book of kings 16 march 30 may 2019 total arts at the courtyard, in its continuing series of visual dialogues, is privileged and proud to present two pillars of contemporary art. Interweaving history, poetry and politics, the series is set against the backdrop of the recent arab spring, and the iranian green movement, which brought. Shirin neshat relates this ancient book to the arab spring and to the iranian green movement, which brought hundreds of thousands on to the streets all over iran in june 2009 in protest against the regime. Its written all over their faces the washington post. Khaled hosseinis the kite runner, and shirin neshat s book of kings series of portraits.
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. Artist shirin neshat challenges the idea of muslim women. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. 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. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. The book of kings a is a long epic poem written by the persian poet ferdowsi between c.
The first two chapters of 1 kings complete the story of david, begun in the preceding books of samuel. An outline history and description of the american metropolis king, moses on. Neshat found inspiration in stories from participants in the arab spring in 2011 and protesters from the. I will greet the sun again is the largest exhibition to date of internationally acclaimed artist shirin neshat s approximately 30year career. The book of kings is a long epic poem written by the persian poet ferdowsi between c. Oct 5, 20 shirin neshat in her studio working on roja from the book of kings series photo.
Shirin neshat s 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 internationally acclaimed iranian artist. Shirin neshat s series of photographs along with a video installation at gladstone gallery perpetuate her study of the underlying conditions of power wit. 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. 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 neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. 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 s turbulent forces you to take a side. Neshat s series returned to gladstone through february 23, 2008. Learn more about the piece and artist, and its final selling price.
Shirin neshat untitled zarin series, 2005 phillips. 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. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in. Neshat inscribed the portrait with calligraphic verses in farsi from contemporary iranian poetry, giving the work a powerful effect. Throughout the space, dozens of iranian and arab youth with engaging, thoughtful expressions stare out from blackandwhite photographs by shirin neshat. Artist shirin neshat captures irans sharp contrasts in black and white the iranianborn visual artist has made her home countrys turbulent history the. Shirin neshat, soliloquy series, 2000, cibachrome print, the broad art foundation. The two books of kings present a history of ancient israel and judah from the death of king david to the release of jehoiachin from imprisonment in babylon, a period of some 400 years c. Gladstone gallery specializes in modern and contemporary art with locations in new york and brussels. 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 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. Many old traditions have been preserved in the books, but they have been reworked by the historian. In her fifth solo exhibit at new yorks gladstone gallery, artist shirin neshat sets up her first ever photo installation. Shirin neshat ghada mourners from the book of kings. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york. 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 the evolution of. King of nineveh vs king of assyria if this be the case, then one must consider why, if the author of the book lived centuries after the historical jonah of 2 kings 14. Aug 15, 20 shirin neshat s book of kings collection. 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. Shahnameh book of kings abul qasim firdausi 9351020 the shahnameh persian. The book of kings consists of three series of large blackandwhite portraits. 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. Shirin neshat, panteha masses, from the book of kings series, 2012. The book of kings consists of three series of large black.
Scholars tend to treat the books as made up of a first edition from the. Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the. 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. 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. Shirin neshat and fereydoun aves the book of kings. Shirin neshat in her studio working on roja from the book. 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. Shirin neshat book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing posted by paul shortt. Consisting of some 50,000 distichs or couplets twoline verses, the shahnameh is one of the worlds longest epic poems. Shirin neshat s book of kings captures the faces of the arab spring riots. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Shirin neshat s solo show the book of kings at faurschou foundation in beijing, china features a new body of photography works and. 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.