Iran: New Voices
Focus: Shirin Neshat

Shirin Neshat
Born in 1957 in Iran, the artist and filmmaker, Shirin Neshat lives in New York City. She has exhibited widely in major European and American cities. Among her most recent solo exhibitions are the ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum, Denmark (2008), the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2006), The Hamburger Banhof, Berlin, Germany (2005), and Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Leon, Spain (2005). She is the winner of numerous awards such as the Golden Lion Award, the First International Prize at the 48th Venice Biennial (1999). Most recently Shirin Neshat has been involved in making her first feature length film, 'Women without Men', based on a novel by the Iranian writer Shahrnush Parsipur. Three videos of the five part series are shown at the film and video screenings at the Barbican

Vali Mahlouji
Born in Tehran, Vali Mahlouji came to London as a result of the outbreak of the Islamic Revolution in Iran to study archaeology and linguistics at the University of London, specialising in ancient Iranian art and antiquities as well as studying Old and Middle Persian for an MPhil in Iranian Philology. He subsequently established his own art gallery before also training in Fine Art and Theatre Design. As a designer his recent projects in theatre and film range from Maeterlinck's The Blind to Dvorak's Rusalka for amongst others the ICA, Riverside Studios, Arcola Theatre and Grange Park Opera, as well as short films for the BBC and UK Film Council. Vali has also worked extensively as a translator in collaboration with the Barbican, NFT, BFI, V&A and Channel 4. His translations and publications include Koohestani's Amid the Clouds (Royal Court), Samini's Eleventh Minute (BBC) and as a co-contributor on Islamic Affairs and Arts & Education for The Guardian.