Last Friday while MOH went into the office for the first time ever in his current role, I decided to take in a new exhibition at the Barbican. That exhibition was Soheila Sokhanvari’s Rebel Rebel, in The Curve until 26 February if you fancy popping along, and explores the ‘contradictions of Iranian women’s lives between 1925 and the 1979 revolution - an explosive period of both liberation and commodification that proved short lived.’
The space - which is named well - contains miniature portraits of glamorous cultural figures from Iran and shares their stories of creative careers in a culture full of Western style, but not its freedoms. Entering the space it was clear it was going to be pretty special.
MONOLITH, 2022, Wood, metal, perspex mirrors and glitter
The portraits are small but the impact is large, especially against the hand-painted geometric pattern, based on traditional Islamic design, which covers the floor and walls of the space. The space is calming and a space for reflection.
There are so many inspirational stories contained within the exhibition and the exhibition guide shares so much more than the short summary I’m sharing here.
Googoosh (1950- )
Known as Googoosh, Faegheh Atashin is possibly the biggest star of 20th century Iran, who began performing at 3, becoming a child star at just 7. She’s known for her prolific music-making releasing more than 200 songs in the 60s and 70s. She was imprisoned for a short time and released on the condition of no more singing in public, though she relaunched her career in 2000 when she was allowed to leave the country again.
Her short hair cut was known as the ‘Googooshy’ - and there aren’t many people that get one of those named after them - I can think of two others, though I’m sure there’s more. The Purdey - yes I’m showing my age, and the Rachel - still old, but not quite so much!
If you’re none the wiser, the Purdey was from The Avengers and was Joanna Lumley’s character, and Rachel was from Friends.
GOOGOOSH 1950- The Love Addict (Portraits of Googoosh), 2019
Forouzan (1937-2016)
Filmfarsi superstar Forouzan’s breakthough role come in 1965 and made her reputation as one of Iran’s most alluring and bankable actors. She made more than 60 films and was the best paid female performer in the industry and remained in Iran after the Islamic revolution in 1979. She was released from prison after signing a letter of repentance, but her money and property were seized by the courts and she died in obscurity, never giving interviews again.
FOROUZAN 1937-2016 - Hey Baby I’m a Star (Portrait of Forouzan), 2019
It’s clear that each of the portraits are a labour of love using the ancient technique of egg tempera - painted onto calf vellum with a squirrel-hair brush. The exhibition title borrowed from David Bowie’s song pays tribute to the courage of these female stars as the 1979 revolution left them with a stark choice: renounce any role in public life or be forced into exile. Given the demonstrations currently taking place in Iran, this exhibition is timely though I’m sure it was already in the Barbican’s programme, but it really does give plenty of food for thought on history, and how things really haven’t changed in the intervening years.
But despite all of that, the courage of these women is remarkable, and for me that was summed up in one of the posters in the shop.
