Shirin Neshat - 'Dreams Are Where Our Fears Live' | Tate

Summary

The artist reflects on a life of cultural duality, growing up in a conservative Iranian town while feeling disconnected from the religious norms. Their journey of displacement continued as an immigrant in the US, where art became a means of reconciling both worlds. Through photography, calligraphy, and video, the artist explores themes of isolation, identity, and the power of storytelling. Their works, such as *Soliloquy* and *Land of Dreams*, delve into the complexities of fear, belonging, and self-expression, capturing the universal struggle of navigating between two distinct cultures.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker grew up in a middle-upper class family in a conservative religious town in Iran, but their parents were not religious, creating a sense of conflict between two different worlds.
• 😀 A pivotal childhood moment involved hearing Quranic chants in their garden, triggering feelings of both anxiety and emotional connection to religion and their cultural identity.
• 😀 The speaker's art reflects their personal experiences of displacement, both in Iran and the United States, highlighting their struggle with identity and belonging.
• 😀 Arriving in the U.S. as a teenager in the late 70s, the speaker felt isolated, disconnected from their family, and out of place in American culture after the Iranian revolution.
• 😀 After 11 years of separation, the speaker returned to Iran in 1990, seeking reconnection with family and their roots, which became an obsession to hold on to their past.
• 😀 The speaker's art evolved to include provocative photography of Iranian women, blending Persian and Islamic art influences with contemporary themes of revolution.
• 😀 The integration of Iranian women’s poetry in the artwork challenged viewers’ perceptions, with calligraphy being used to express the suppressed voices of women under the regime.
• 😀 The speaker enjoyed the labor of calligraphy as a medium of storytelling, using it to narrate experiences of displacement, identity, and connection to Iranian heritage.
• 😀 The speaker’s interest in video and moving images began early, with short experimental films and videos acting as poems or stories, often involving dual projections and audience interaction.
• 😀 The speaker's video work 'Soliloquy' was a personal exploration of their experience as an Iranian immigrant in the U.S., capturing feelings of being an outsider in both the U.S. and Iran.
• 😀 The speaker's later project, 'Land of Dreams,' merges still photography, video, and film to explore the universal nature of dreams and fears, with the protagonist collecting people's dreams and fears as a reflection of her own anxiety.

Q & A

How did the artist's upbringing influence their work?

The artist grew up in a middle-upper-class family in a conservative religious town in Iran. Despite their parents' non-religious stance, the artist experienced a sense of displacement and conflict between two contrasting worlds—religious and secular—which heavily influenced their art. This feeling of being an outsider is a recurring theme in their work.

What is the significance of the artist's experience with Quranic chanting?

The artist’s reaction to Quranic chanting, where they felt both joy and anxiety, reflects their inner conflict. The emotions of enjoyment and worry about not conforming to daily religious practices contributed to the themes of displacement and identity in their art.

How did the artist’s migration to the U.S. shape their identity and artistic expression?

The artist felt displaced both when they arrived in the U.S. and after the Iranian Revolution, which further isolated them from their family. Their sense of alienation, both in America and Iran, became a central theme in their work, expressing feelings of being an outsider in both cultures.

How did the artist use photography in their early works?

The artist used photography to create provocative images, including the 'woman of Allah' series, which incorporated Persian and Islamic art styles with contemporary themes about the Iranian Revolution. They used text, often poetry written by Iranian women, to accompany the images.

What role does calligraphy play in the artist's work?

Calligraphy plays a significant role in the artist's work as a means of storytelling. The artist enjoys the physical labor of writing and sees it as an expression of the untold emotions and thoughts of Iranian women, particularly in the context of strict religious regimes.

How does the artist describe the role of women in their artwork?

The artist emphasizes the silent yet powerful role of women in their artwork, especially in the context of Iran's strict religious culture. The women in the artist’s work, though visually passive, convey profound emotional and intellectual expressions through the use of calligraphy and imagery.

What is the significance of the artist’s video work?

The artist’s video work, particularly their early composite double-channel projections, invited the audience to actively engage with the artwork, placing them inside the conflict between two separate projections. The videos served as a reflection of the artist’s personal experiences as an Iranian in the U.S. and often addressed themes of displacement and identity.

What is the theme of the video 'Soliloquy'?

'Soliloquy' explores the artist's experience as an Iranian immigrant in the U.S. The video portrays a conflicted Iranian woman who struggles to blend into both Iranian and American societies. The artist, through this video, explores themes of alienation and the space between these two worlds.

What is the concept behind the artist's project 'Land of Dreams'?

'Land of Dreams' is a complex project combining still photography, video, and film. It tells the story of an Iranian protagonist who enters American homes under the guise of an art student and asks residents about their dreams. This project explores the universality of dreams and fears, reflecting the artist’s own sense of displacement and alienation.

How does the artist use music to convey their experience in the U.S.?

The artist uses Persian music in scenes where the protagonist drives through America, symbolizing the artist’s own immigrant experience. The music underscores the emotional disconnect the artist feels between American culture and their Iranian roots, enhancing the sense of nostalgia and isolation.