Shirin Neshat [Artist]

By: Editor | December 16, 2011 | Lifestyle

Resting her fame on the paradox between East and West, men and women, constraints and desires, old and new, Iranian artist Shirin Neshat has been acclaimed and celebrated in the art world since the early 1990s. Neshat delivers her ideas through the mediums of photography and film. Her powerful images make it almost impossible to distinguish the bridge she has created between two cultures.  Because Neshat’s was born into an upper-middle-class family with dreams of a Western lifestyle, inspiration came at a young age that helped her see more deeply into what made each culture its own. Although Neshat is no doubt aware of the fractious nature of political power structures and the economy of the market, which more often than not determine the location of her shows, her thoughts and visuals are never hindered by them. Rather, they played off each other poetically. Each of Neshat’s video installations and photography collections have appeared in museums all around the world bringing light and stimulating a new perception of the balance between Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Describe your personality in 10 words or less.
A woman full of contradictions.

If you were reincarnated, who or what would you like to come back as?
Frida Khalo.

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishment?
Receiving the Silver Lion award “Best Director” in Venice film festival (2009)  for my first film Women Without Men.

What would be your 5-song play list to your life?
There are two songs that I love more than life: “Anta Omri”, by Oum Kolthum (Egyptian) amd Yadegar Doost by “Shahram Nazeri” (Iranian).
Other singers I love but can’t name any songs are Leonard Cohen, Ahmed Ibrahim (Turkish), and Ottis Redding.

Name your favorite …
Contemporary musician: Mohsen Namjoo
Comfort food: Apple
Wild animal: Lion
Instrument: Setar
Founding Father: ?????

What is your greatest fear? 
Earthquakes.

Who is the most interesting person you have ever met (and why)?
Arundhati Roy, an amazing human rights activist, talented writer, and very beautiful woman.

What are you pissed about right now?
The Iranian government.

Name three things you cannot live without.
My son, husband, and pets.

You get one wish …
I wish the Islamic Republic of Iran could be dismantled, allowing for democracy in Iran.

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