Hayv Kahraman
Persian Couple 2
Oil on linen
106.7 by 172.7 cm. 42 by 68 in.
Private collection
Sold for 68,750 USD in Nov 2015
The present painting brings attention to the emotional state of the female character, echoed by the tones and the tamed senses of depth and motion depicted in the work. The juxtaposed painted patterns mimicking bedsheets over the naked bodies create a deep sense of contrast with the bare canvas around the faces of the characters. In this manner, Kahraman not only creates a graphic sense of spatial illusion, but also forces the viewer to interpret the violence of the scene through the repressed expressions of the protagonists rather than the raw confrontation of their bodies. The sharp shapes and dim colours combined with a near-absence of light and movement convey a poignant feeling of numbness and resignation. Despite the jarring implications of this scene, the painting is infused with an aura of femininity and softness – a system of representation characteristic of Kahraman’s practice, subverting conventional portrayals of violence and oppression to challenge the common perception of the role occupied by women in the Middle East. Fundamental to that purpose is the use of traditional Middle Eastern garments and tessellated patterns. By means of combining complex, wounded realities with her astonishing technical virtuosity, Hayv Kahraman has shaped modern ideas of feminism and decolonisation into accessible and seductive fairy-tale imagery with astonishing power and impact. More on this painting
Hayv Kahraman, American/Iraqi, born 1981
Persian Couple 1, c. 2009
68 x 42 in. (172.7 x 106.7 cm.)
Private collection
Hayv Kahraman is an Iraqi artist born in 1981. At the age of 11, her family left Baghdad during the Gulf War and settled in Sweden for several years, where her status of refugee became a catalytic experience for her artistic practice. Having studied graphic design at the Accademia di Arte e Design di Firenze, Italy, Kahraman uses a variety of media including sculpture, drawing and painting to address difficult issues relative to gender inequalities, war and the migrant experience. Channeling refined aesthetics inspired from Islamic arts, Art Nouveau and Japanese paintings to confront the viewer with controversial scenes, the artist engages with the notion of femininity in Middle Eastern cultures. Her approach to gender roles and female identity encapsulates how women are persecuted in their own culture through systematic submission to the male gaze, physicality and politics. More on Hayv Kahraman
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