Exiled iranian artist shirin neshat looks at the egyptian. The epic of kings is the epic poem of the persian poet ferdowsi which tells of the mythological and historical past of persia from the creation of the world up until the islamic conquest in the seventh century. Composed of over 50,000 couplet verses, the poem suggests the irony of human. An encounter with artist shirin neshat dw documentary. Translations of shahnameh of firdausi in the west 40 italian since 1873, after the translation of the golestan to italian, persian literature has come to the attention of the italians radfar, 1990. Shahnameh baysonqori is a copy of shahnameh book of kings composed by the highly revered iranian poet abu alqasim firdawsi 9401020. 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.
This biography profiles her childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline. A new english language version brings the 1,000yearold. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist who was born in qazvin, iran, educated in berkeley, california and is currently based in new york. The book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. The shahnama or book of kings is an epic poem written in 1010 and containing about 60,000 couplets. Written as an epic poem by the poet ferdowsi in the 10th century, it is one of the great classics of persian literature. Shirin neshat biography childhood, life achievements. The exhibition features a new body of photography works and a video. Its written all over their faces the washington post. Iranian artist shirin neshat on art, politics and changing the world interview. Stories from shahnameh the persian book of kings retold by elizabeth laird and illustrated by shirin adl. I am iranian, and the importance of this book really can not be overstated. The history of ancient persia serves as the basis of the epic poem shahnameh sometimes spelled shahnemeh. Nearing the twentieth anniversary of her new york debut, shirin neshat, in her recent exhibition at gladstone gallery, book of kings, adeptly.
This iconic persian folk tale was authored by nizami ganjavi who lived during the high middle ages period of 1141 1209 ce. The importance of shahnameh in the persianspeaking world is comparable that of homers epics in the west. In her upcoming project, neshat will present a new series of photographs and a. 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 epic tells the mythical and to some extent the historical past of the persian empire from the creation of the world until the islamic conquest of persia in the 7th century. This resulted in the creation of the epic which in persian is called shahnameh or translated the book of kings, the longest poem ever written in history. 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. Interweaving history, poetry and politics, the series is set against the backdrop of the recent arab. Shirin neshat is an iranian artist based in new york.
Shirin neshat has 28 books on goodreads with 1615 ratings. Browse more artworks shirin neshat from leila heller gallery. Shirin neshat retrospective at the detroit institute of arts whitewall. Shirin neshat is an iranian visual artist and activist. The renowned shahnameh or book of kings, an epic poem written in 1010 ce by the iranian poet hakim abulqasim mansur later known as. 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. 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.
Shahnameh, the epic of the persian kings, akin to the. 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. This is also the same legendary poet who also penned the famous persian love story of layla and majnun khosrow and shirin is a work of fiction and a tale of love between the sasanian king khosrow ii and shirin, the armenian princess who went. Shirin neshat supports the iranian opposition, loves contradictions and sees herself as a freedom fighter who uses the weapons of art against the oppression of islamic women.
The internet classics archive the epic of kings by ferdowsi. The shahnameh is the worlds longest epic poem written by a single poet the persian poet ferdowsi between c. Inspired to create her bestknown photographic series women of allah 199397, neshat wrote verses by contemporary iranian women writers across the surface of her. Just in time for the persian new year, theres a new english translation of the shahnameh the epic persian book of kings written over the course of 35 years in the 11th century ad by the. The italian translator of the shahnameh, italopizzi rendered the entire book in eight volumes sorkhabi, 2011. Vividly translated and lushly illustrated, this edition of the persian epic shahnameh is fully illuminated for new audiences ferdowsis classic poem shahnameh is part myth, part historybeginning with the legend of the birth of the persian nation and its tumultuous history, it contains magical birds and superhuman heroes and centurieslong battles. Facing history, hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden, 2015. This prodigious narrative, composed by the poet ferdowsi between the years 980 and 1010, tells the story of pre islamic iran, beginning in the mythic time of creation and continuing forward to. The shahname, literally meaning book of kings, is structured according to the mythical and historical reign of 50 persian 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. It came about that on a certain day rustem arose from his couch, and his mind was filled with forebodings. In book of kings 2012, a photographic project employing women of. Shahnameh book of kings ars artistic adventure of mankind. While i dislike the childish style of the artwork, it has a certain charm and the vibrant colours make it appealing. Shirin neshat salah patriots, from the book of kings. Consisting of some 50,000 distichs or couplets twoline verses, the shahnameh is one of the worlds longest epic poems. Again its a story about the relationship between the country and a woman. Neshat at the hirshhorn late worksnew readings the. On view through july 7, shirin neshat, a midcareer retrospective.
Shirin neshat speaks about her retrospective at the. 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 faurschou foundation beijing is honored to present shirin neshats the book of kings. Ferdowsis great aim was to revive the ancient persian culture, mythology and language after the invasion of the islamic caliphate of the arabs. 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. Shahnameh by hakim ferdousi firdowsi, translated into english by helen zimmerman, uploaded for easy on line reading and retrieval for research purposes by muhammad umar chand in memory of ahmad shaikh of sindh printing press, zeb adabi markaz, and rahman book binding for his love to make. 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. Give ear unto the combat of sohrab against rustem, though it be a tale replete with tears. 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. It is maybe the sole reason the persian language today is still alive and in fact so similar to its form more than a thousand years ago that any persian speaker can read and understand the shahnameh even today. Shirin neshats book of kings captures the faces of the. Shirin neshat panteha masses, from the book of kings.
The shahnameh is a collection of stories and myths from ancient iran, filled with kings, heroes, princesses, magical animals and demons. A short trailer for the adverse camber production of the shahnameh. Shahnameh, a persian masterpiece, still relevant today. Thepersian book of kings, the national epic of persia. 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. In 1990, neshat returned to visit iran and found a changed country. Incorporating archival material to contextualize her practice, the. The shahs of old 31k feridoun 42k zal 23k zal and rudabeh 55k rustem 40k the march into mazinderan 60k kai kaous committeth more follies 30k. The poem was written around ad by the poet abol mansur ferdovci also spelled abu. The epic of the persian kings exhibition at the fitzwilliam museum in cambridge features illustrations inspired by the shahnameh poet ferdowsis book of kings. Gladstone gallery is pleased to announce our fifth exhibition with shirin neshat. Among the great works of world literature, perhaps one of the least familiar to english readers is the shahnameh. The book recounts in verse the mythological history of ancient persia and tales of the famous heroes and personalities of. Shirin neshat national museum of women in the arts.
Shirin neshat, the book of kings, 2012, installation view. Neshat, persona non grata in iran due to her art, created the photographs. The epic of kings has been divided into the following sections. This prodigious narrative, composed by the poet ferdowsi between the years 980 and 1010, tells the story of pre islamic iran, beginning in the mythic time of creation and continuing forward to the arab invasion in the.
The portraits, displayed in three groupsthe masses, the patriots and the villainsare enhanced with drawings and arabic text, including contemporary poetry by iranian writers and prisoners and. View the book of kings series by shirin neshat on artnet. Commonly called the book of kings in english, the shahnameh is irans national epic, written by the poet abolqasem ferdowsi, who first began work on it. Like most revolutions, however, the series of events that. Shahnameh retells the mythical and historical past of greater iran from the creation of the world until the islamic conquest of. At that time, neshat began to photograph herself wearing the chador, or veil. Shirin neshats powerful photographs and video installations illuminate the gender and cultural conflicts of her native iran. Available for sale from leila heller gallery, shirin neshat, salah patriots, from the book of kings series 2012, ink on le silver gelatin print, 152. The stories are exciting and easy to read with little codas of rhyming verse which add to the epic nature of the stories. 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. 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. The epic book of kings xanthe greshamknight uk suitable for adult audiences 16 years and above. The epic narrates the deeds of legendary and historical kings of iran, including tales of heroes and villains.
Unique and lavish renditions of this story have been created for several centuries books were collected luxury items for the wealthy. 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. Be transported to a passionfilled world of heroic adventure and romance within a masterpiece of world literature. Heart of iranian identity reimagined for a new generation shahnameh is the persian odyssey, with ancient legends and myths put into verse. Epic artwork of the persian book of kings bbc news. The display includes recent works, such as the photographic series inspired in the classic persian text, the book of kings, and the short overruled.
Shirin neshat moved to the united states during the iranian revolution 1979 and studied fine arts. Iranian artist shirin neshat on art, politics and changing. Written on the body by shirin neshat the strength of. Shirin neshat and fereydoun aves the book of kings exhibition. Long before hbos wildly popular game of thrones was created, iranians turned to the national literary epic shahnameh the book of.
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