Fatemeh Boroujeni - Shirzan
Presented at John Curtin Gallery, Perth, WA
As part of IOTA24
Sculptural Work and Project Direction by Fatemeh Boroujeni
Digital Media Work by Steven Alyian
I was commissioned by the fantastic sculptural and jewellery artist Fatemeh Boroujeni to develop a digital video storytelling component to this work which honours the women who have died in protests for the Women Rights Freedom movement in Iran. Working with sensitive material sourced online that was often being buried by the media, weaving memorial pieces for 6 women in with Fatemeh’s own story and process of creating the sculptural works.
The video is displayed across 3 simultaneous monitors that transition between states of documentary presentation and memorial moments, made to invoke the feeling of sitting at gravestones in reverence for the dead.
SHIRZAN - In exhibition
About SHIRZAN
Shirzan, 2024 cedar wood, oxidised copper, natural hair, video and sound, dimensions variable
At the centre of Shirzan sits a series of carved wooden lionesses: a tribute to the heroines who lead and have died for the Women, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran, the artist’s birthplace. This movement was ignited with the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran’s morality police and has since turned into a revolutionary movement. These stories are told through anecdotal descriptions of the lives lost, capturing their sheer courage which has been otherwise historically omitted. A mixture of traditional and modern symbols adorns each lioness sculpture, which correlates to the video work that explains each symbol, along with commentary by the artist on the emotional and historical context behind her work.
This project is assisted by the WA Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries and IOTA Ambassadors. Shirzan is a multimedia installation that combines traditional craft mediums with video and sound, in collaboration with Steven Hughes.
