What is Art? Something defines in term of beauty, knowledge or experiment. Or, something widely depict a story or scenery as it will certainly affect the thought of a generation. Can Art depict a story to destroy a religion image? One example from the article, “Ramin and Rokni Haerizadeh on making art about sex and politics in the Middle East,” tells about religion beliefs in art.
Ramin and Rokni Haerizadeh, two Iranian artists exiled from Iran in spring 2009. Because their works obviously depict images against Islam’s anti-iconic stricture and Islamic role prohibits to create art miniatures. Ramin Haerizadeh portrays naked self-portrait overlaid with traditional Islamic patterns from his “Men of Allah” series. His work evokes the anger and despair of political opposition. By contrast, Rokni paints with Western traditions style and focuses on technique of painting. By the way, the collector prohibits to possess their works and be threatened with four months in prison.
Their visions establish an image of blasphemous art but they show 2 side effects. One side offend the political rules. Ramin chooses art as media to express the inside politician problem to another countries. Provocative art pieces of personal opinion is representative of non-freedom of speech in this country. Because the poitical and religion system are not allowed to express their opinion directly. It seems only one way of how to tell the world what happens in Iran. It is easy way to get attention from the Western. Other opposite side is destroying people’s religious beliefs. They break Islamic rule about image and lack of consciousness to religious sensibility. They resist the Muslim people and holy law with their works and they resist themselves in the same time. How can we believe in this kind of person and their works? This article is quite complicated which relate between religion, politic and art. I confused with their opinion and character. What do you think about their works? Is it good? Or not?
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References
http://www.economist.com/node/16690352?story_id=16690352
Many people are interested in unconventional works, but how many are people brave to do these works same Ramin and Rokni Haerizadeh.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I do not know much about art. I just a person who looks the art because it is beauty. Therefore, when I read the article posted by NK, I think what two artises want from this picture. They want to against the regulation, they want to show the freedom for doing the art, or they want to be well-known people and make people to pay attention to their works.
I don't know whether others Islamic country have the same law that prohibit to create art miniature. By the way, it shows that it is not much freedom in Iran.
ReplyDeleteAbout their work, it remind me about the picture which was argued in Thailand a few years ago. it is exotic, but it also disdain religion. Although sometimes the artist want to express the truth in society, many people can't stand the ugly truth.
see the picture here: http://atcloud.com/stories/76564
Such an interesting and controversial post. If I would live in Iran I think that I would be very careful about what I would comment in this post. Seems like Haerizadeh's brothers haven't got the fears I have, and I admire this behavior.
ReplyDeleteThat they tray to get the attention of western countries is totally understandable because their delicate situation. Irani's government feel offended by the art of these brothers. And the reaction is 4 months in jail, and let me suspect that many bad things can happen to Rokni in a prison if he finally go back to his country.
I woud like to point some question about politics and religion in Iran. Are these artist really expressing his disagreement with muslim religion or with the government? Are the actuals religion believes in Iran based in the Quran, or in the interpretation that the leaders make of the Quran?
I would like to add that I don't know much about islam and middle east, and my poor suggestions or ideas have very few foundations.
Girt (November 17, 2010 1:06 AM )
ReplyDeleteThey are different purpose between 2 brothers. Ramin paints or collages his works under sexual and political content. Rokni's works focus on strong expression and abstract style. Similarly, they show creativity in their works and against the regulation natually. From detailed observation in physical environment, there are not images in everywhere. As a result, Islamic rules do not allow to create picture, but they create the fantastic islamic pattern which compose of mathematic and aesthetic logic.
David (November 17, 2010 1:35 AM )
Ramin certailly expresses his disagreement with the government. That why the United Arab Emirates gave three-year visas for him and allowed to stay in the UAE, but The UAE does not offer political asylum as it's delicate religion. Off the record, an official staff said, “welcome to stay in Dubai as long as their work doesn't cause friction with an important trade partner.”
The actual religion in Iran is Shi'a 90%, Sunni 8% ,and non-Muslim 2%. Shi'a Islam gather and become a religious and political power. Shi's Islam beleive in the interpretation that the leaders make of the Quran, the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and have distincions between how many of leader, Fiver, Sevener or Twelver.
Nice image - the red adds a bright touch, or is it blood red?
ReplyDeleteI think that if I were in Iran, I would not even mention this topic - the law's that do not allow such things to be discussed are draconian and barbaric, but draconian punishments do tend to be very effective, and such laws are very popular with many who prefer guaranteed ignorance on some topics to the possibility of knowledge that open discussion makes possible.
The natural question is why do the authorities prefer certain ignorance to the possibility of knowledge?
I agree with David that the issues Namkhang raises are controversial since many people in many countries appear to think that some topics should be kept wrapped in ignorance for a variety of generally very bad reasons.
I also like the juxtaposition of the modern with the traditional in the image. Perhaps it's time for the dictators to learn that tradition can only live and be of any value if it's also permitted to evolve for modern needs?
In Islamic countries, politic, law and religion's rules are the same thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen people do something againtst the religion's rules that means they against the law too.
When I saw this picture, I infer that this picture is about sexual. And everythings about sexual are prohibitive things.
I think, if this picture appears in other countries except Islamic countries, it'll be fine. It's just only an art picture.
When I saw this picture and read the topic, I suddenly think about the same picture that Nan said. That picture was created by Thai artist who lives in Buddhism country. The same problem is religion and people have strong relation, so it's unacceptable if some people or artists express their feeling by destroy their belief and faith.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, I think the beautiful of art composes by 2 things. The first is the beautiful of art work that was considered by its meaning,style,color,or history. While,the second is the beautiful of culture that artists base on which.
ReplyDeleteTherefore,I think the Haerizadeh's work success in the first dimension but lose in second. The picture lack the beautiful of the artists' culture. They don't respect on their culture enough.
This is an out-of-my-favor topic, so naturally I don't understand the whole idea, actually I don't know anything about art or Iran.
ReplyDeleteBut, I assume that they're using Islamic law over there and it seems to be a cruel yet effective law.
It must be awful, being an artist in such a strictful country. Artists are those with free spirit. For the creativity of an artist to be prisoned with religious beliefs/law would be torturing and it is understandable that the artist would rebel.
And why do the authorities prefer certain ignorance to the possibility of knowledge?
I guess ruling over ignorant people is simply much, much easier than people with knowledge, or, worse nightmare of authorities elsewhere, rebellions.
I think it's good way to put their opinion, or feeling in their art. I compose songs like that. Therefore, art and songs can be terrific.
ReplyDeleteRoong (November 17, 2010 10:35 PM )
ReplyDeleteI guess from your comment. Do you study law? May be? For Islamic countries, religion, politic and cultural rules are bound up for a long time. I can mention that everything is under controlled by the religion rules. How cruel the religion rules are, Its depends on which branch of Islam, Sunni or Shi'a.
I think artist is the first unimportant career in Islamic county because of Islam’s anti-iconic stricture. The government still ignores the possibility of knowledge espeacially for women.
Akira (November 18, 2010 2:09 AM )
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Art pieces or songs are valuable and memorable. It should have artist's opinion, experience, background etc. On my own, I quite interested in artist who mixed different kind of knowledge, for example, Ryoji Ikeda. His works are terrific, so he composes the rhythmic songs with visual art which generated by engineering and mathematical theory.
The faces are very viril, the painting is well done. The coulors are well combine. The flowers on the body are delicated. So sensual and so close these two men. Are they gay? That it is so provocative to very concervative person, in particular islamique people. When there is condamnation to say what we think art, using symbol, is way to say
ReplyDeletewhat we can not express. And it is well done in this painting.
Artist shows their thoughts and opinions with using pictures, paintings or songs... Sometimes it makes troubles same as the two Iranian artists. because it is related with religion or politics. When my country had had a democratic revolution, some songs or poems prohibited because government thought it was related with communism, but now these were interpreted differently.
ReplyDeleteI think it is their work by painting. it would be interpreted differently the next generation.