I totally agree with Neshat that a lot of art in galleries is just wall decoration - and increasingly seen as a bankable commodity with value based on resale value. There will always be individuals who are only interested in art based on prestige and money, but when this motivates galleries and curators then they are actively compounding the problem.
I've read recent suggestions that political art can never be great art. I disagree.
What Shirin says about America and the 'individualistic' culture really connects with the point Glenn Ligon was making with his ME neon! Different artists same culture. As an immigrant myself I really connected with what she was saying about always finding yourself 'between' cultures and not quite fitting in anywhere. But in a way that's a great perspective for an artist - certainly for Shirin. I think her work is great, the films too. And how amazing that the 'morality police' have just been disbanded in Iran. They need to do much more of course but the women of Iran have at least a small triumph to celebrate!With regards to the commodification of art - is this inevitable in a capitalistic society, and how amazing is it that as stocks and Crypto slide south tangible art seems to have more value than ever. But what does that do to artists who are pushing forward with new ideas and explorations? Who can we rely on to find new interesting things and give it airtime? You maybe????
Ha! Yes you can definitely rely on me to give airtime to interesting things... I'm a bit sceptical about the morality police disbandment -- I wonder how long that will last as they have promised such things before. It might just last until the heat dies down. But nevertheless, it does show them responding to the pressure.
When I saw that photograph my initial response was that it was a critique of brainwashing about religious fanaticism. Having read what you said about it and what Neshat says about her work I can see that is completely the opposite of the artist's intention. It's interesting how Western ideas about other cultures play into our interpretation. Feel annoyed with myself.
I’m really intrigued by Neshat’s work, the calligraphy on top of portraits is very moving, and I would have assumed (bias most likely) the text to be religious too, the idea that it’s creative poetry is just beautiful. For me, it’s the duality that really shows through, and I loved hearing her speak about what has shaped her art. In the interview she really gets into the discussion about individual and collective societies, from a psychological perspective this is fascinating as western culture with its individualistic culture means that we experience some key emotions such as nostalgia, shame and anger in very different ways to collective cultures.
I was thinking about my question around activism and Banksy last week, and why Banksy’s activism feels hollow, and perhaps the answer is in the individualistic nature, Neshat’s art straddles both, it’s is deeply autobiographical and at the same time her openness and the way she talks about and brings us into that world feels more collective, a call to action. This is a key difference between individual and collective cultures, the group effect in collective cultures is more likely to create action.
Another amazing delve into the art world! Thank you for introducing us to Neshat’s work. I’m really enjoying getting to know the artists behind the images ❤️
I see what you're saying about the difference between Banksy and Neshat. I'm interested in what you're saying about how individualistic and collective cultures experience emotions in different ways. Do you have an example?
Shame is a great example, in an individualistic society shame is felt deeply by the individual, but in a collectivist culture that feeling is wider and more extended beyond the self, one might be deeply worried about the shame brought upon family or community, and therefore there might be a threat of being ostracised or rejected by a community for bringing shame. Communist and religious communities are examples of collectivist cultures. It's not an exact science though, individual differences and personality will also have an influence on how we experience emotions such as shame, anger and disgust.
This is so interesting Leila, I haven't thought about these differences very much before. I have heard about shame on family and community in other cultures but it's literally nothing I've ever felt myself, although I have of course felt shame personally.
I totally agree with Neshat that a lot of art in galleries is just wall decoration - and increasingly seen as a bankable commodity with value based on resale value. There will always be individuals who are only interested in art based on prestige and money, but when this motivates galleries and curators then they are actively compounding the problem.
I've read recent suggestions that political art can never be great art. I disagree.
Political art is all art as far as I'm concerned! Sorry to keep directing you to more of my writing Lucy but this one sums up my thoughts on so-called 'political' art. https://www.thegallerycompanion.com/p/ai-weiwei-is-all-art-political
I very much appreciate being directed by you to further reading. Keep it coming! Thank you
What Shirin says about America and the 'individualistic' culture really connects with the point Glenn Ligon was making with his ME neon! Different artists same culture. As an immigrant myself I really connected with what she was saying about always finding yourself 'between' cultures and not quite fitting in anywhere. But in a way that's a great perspective for an artist - certainly for Shirin. I think her work is great, the films too. And how amazing that the 'morality police' have just been disbanded in Iran. They need to do much more of course but the women of Iran have at least a small triumph to celebrate!With regards to the commodification of art - is this inevitable in a capitalistic society, and how amazing is it that as stocks and Crypto slide south tangible art seems to have more value than ever. But what does that do to artists who are pushing forward with new ideas and explorations? Who can we rely on to find new interesting things and give it airtime? You maybe????
Ha! Yes you can definitely rely on me to give airtime to interesting things... I'm a bit sceptical about the morality police disbandment -- I wonder how long that will last as they have promised such things before. It might just last until the heat dies down. But nevertheless, it does show them responding to the pressure.
When I saw that photograph my initial response was that it was a critique of brainwashing about religious fanaticism. Having read what you said about it and what Neshat says about her work I can see that is completely the opposite of the artist's intention. It's interesting how Western ideas about other cultures play into our interpretation. Feel annoyed with myself.
There are many ways to interpret it Helen
I’m really intrigued by Neshat’s work, the calligraphy on top of portraits is very moving, and I would have assumed (bias most likely) the text to be religious too, the idea that it’s creative poetry is just beautiful. For me, it’s the duality that really shows through, and I loved hearing her speak about what has shaped her art. In the interview she really gets into the discussion about individual and collective societies, from a psychological perspective this is fascinating as western culture with its individualistic culture means that we experience some key emotions such as nostalgia, shame and anger in very different ways to collective cultures.
I was thinking about my question around activism and Banksy last week, and why Banksy’s activism feels hollow, and perhaps the answer is in the individualistic nature, Neshat’s art straddles both, it’s is deeply autobiographical and at the same time her openness and the way she talks about and brings us into that world feels more collective, a call to action. This is a key difference between individual and collective cultures, the group effect in collective cultures is more likely to create action.
Another amazing delve into the art world! Thank you for introducing us to Neshat’s work. I’m really enjoying getting to know the artists behind the images ❤️
I see what you're saying about the difference between Banksy and Neshat. I'm interested in what you're saying about how individualistic and collective cultures experience emotions in different ways. Do you have an example?
Shame is a great example, in an individualistic society shame is felt deeply by the individual, but in a collectivist culture that feeling is wider and more extended beyond the self, one might be deeply worried about the shame brought upon family or community, and therefore there might be a threat of being ostracised or rejected by a community for bringing shame. Communist and religious communities are examples of collectivist cultures. It's not an exact science though, individual differences and personality will also have an influence on how we experience emotions such as shame, anger and disgust.
This is so interesting Leila, I haven't thought about these differences very much before. I have heard about shame on family and community in other cultures but it's literally nothing I've ever felt myself, although I have of course felt shame personally.
It would be interesting to study how the collective shame felt by German citizens manifested in the arts in the postwar years and the 60s & 70s..
It's a wall of silence.
Yes 😭