No Man left Behind, 2021
Handmade painted wooden box, natural white goose feathers, vintage Zoorkhaneh bell from Shiraz, rope, Mahogany Persian Meels & rope
Unique
Unique
91.5 x 91.5
36 1/8 x 36 1/8
36 1/8 x 36 1/8
Copyright The Artist
Further images
Two upright objects, called Meel’s in Persian, appear to float above a bed of goose feathers. These wooden clubs originate from a traditional Iranian sport known as Pahlavani, a ritualistic...
Two upright objects, called Meel’s in Persian, appear to float above a bed of goose feathers. These wooden clubs originate from a traditional Iranian sport known as Pahlavani, a ritualistic series of movements and practices accompanied by poetry, storytelling and the fast-paced drum beat of the Zarb instrument. The purpose of this activity is the elevation and re-enforcement of the athlete’s superiority through acts loaded with symbolic chivalric and masculine traits. Rezaei has playfully subverted this masculine activity.
A ritual that is reserved exclusively for men is here ‘pink washed’. Unlike many corporations and regimes who use pink washing to distract attention from negative actions Rezaei is using it to highlight the ongoing inequality and segregation all over the world where not just women but many minorities are excluded from rituals and ceremonies reserved for those with power.
The interactive element of the piece, a bell suspended on a pink rope, adds to the artists attempt to be inclusive. Before and after each ritual performed by the men during Pahlavani is completed the bell is rung and poems or stories are recited. Rezaei has removed this restriction, we are free to ring this bell anytime. She has removed the stability and certainty from this ancient sport and in doing so has introduced visual instability and uncertainty, a concept that runs through the exhibition.
A ritual that is reserved exclusively for men is here ‘pink washed’. Unlike many corporations and regimes who use pink washing to distract attention from negative actions Rezaei is using it to highlight the ongoing inequality and segregation all over the world where not just women but many minorities are excluded from rituals and ceremonies reserved for those with power.
The interactive element of the piece, a bell suspended on a pink rope, adds to the artists attempt to be inclusive. Before and after each ritual performed by the men during Pahlavani is completed the bell is rung and poems or stories are recited. Rezaei has removed this restriction, we are free to ring this bell anytime. She has removed the stability and certainty from this ancient sport and in doing so has introduced visual instability and uncertainty, a concept that runs through the exhibition.