Shari Ghadirian
Born in 1974, Tehran, Iran
Lives and works in Tehran, Iran
Shari Ghadirian's photography comments on the stereotypes of Muslim women. In her series "Like Everyday" (2000), Ghadirian photographs chador-wrapped women with everyday objects in place of the face. The use of the objects, instead of the face, creates ambiguity and also lets the viewer associate the woman with that object and stereotype. i.e. "A shrouded broom huddles with timid demureness, her form most associated with ‘doormat’; beneath her veil, however, the broom handle stands in for a sturdy backbone. With her countenance made up of a straw besom, her expression appears wizened and worn, indicating time honoured knowledge and the tenacity and temper of a charwoman." (Saatchi Gallery).
Lives and works in Tehran, Iran
Shari Ghadirian's photography comments on the stereotypes of Muslim women. In her series "Like Everyday" (2000), Ghadirian photographs chador-wrapped women with everyday objects in place of the face. The use of the objects, instead of the face, creates ambiguity and also lets the viewer associate the woman with that object and stereotype. i.e. "A shrouded broom huddles with timid demureness, her form most associated with ‘doormat’; beneath her veil, however, the broom handle stands in for a sturdy backbone. With her countenance made up of a straw besom, her expression appears wizened and worn, indicating time honoured knowledge and the tenacity and temper of a charwoman." (Saatchi Gallery).
In her 1998 series "Qajar", Ghadirian photographs women in the same style and compositions of the Qajar dynasty who ruled Iran from 1794-1925. While the mood and poses of this series relate directly to the Qajar times, the artist juxtaposes that time period with modern objects placed in the images. This humorous detail of combining contemporary and much earlier objects creates a "time-warp" for the viewer. Invasion of modern objects perhaps comments on the impact contemporary society has on Islamic tradition and religion today.