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Lot Essay
‘The role of women is a substantial component of Iranian culture…women are so complex and have so many facets that I can paint them for a thousand years. I put the guns and swords in their hands not as a gesture of empowering them, but to symbolise their innate strength and power’ (The artist in conversation with Chanelle Tourish, 2015). Key job is the perfect embodiment of Pirhashimi’s evocative use of symbolism and his intrigue with the female form. Visually captivating and dramatic in its central portrayed female figure, the work bleeds from its edges the complexities inherent to modern day Iran.
The present work presents itself as one of dualities—between purity and vulgarity, oppression and freedom, symbolized through the carefully articulated scene. Painted against a white background, the woman clutches a deep red lollipop while holding her white hijab with a blue glove. On the other hand, she chooses to hold her lollipop without a glove, holding the lollipop as if it were a cigarette. Makeup is smeared dripping down her face and only half of her mouth is smeared with the lollipop’s blood red glaze, while the other half is without makeup, suggesting a suspenseful scene and the most powerful contrast in the composition. Her expression is confident and bold; her stance and presentation becomes a power symbol. A woman of freedom, desire and determination, she is represented as breaking down gender related barriers. Instead of depicting an idealized female in terms of societal standards, Pirhashemi instead evokes this beauty through her power and colour choices, thereby dismantling gendered stereotypes. Although overwhelming and depicted in such realistic means, the scene is presented in such sterile and ethereal nature; its whiteness in its cloudy background and the white cloth surrounding the women is all too pure, shown in very bright composition ultimately realizes its fantasy.
Through his oeuvre, Pirhashemi explores the psychosocial properties of contemporary Iran and its indexes of power as they appear or are exchanged through gendered bodies and space. This evident fascination with women and their struggles in hostile environments has been translated through his distinctive style into photorealistic portraits audaciously positioned on minimalist backgrounds.
The present work presents itself as one of dualities—between purity and vulgarity, oppression and freedom, symbolized through the carefully articulated scene. Painted against a white background, the woman clutches a deep red lollipop while holding her white hijab with a blue glove. On the other hand, she chooses to hold her lollipop without a glove, holding the lollipop as if it were a cigarette. Makeup is smeared dripping down her face and only half of her mouth is smeared with the lollipop’s blood red glaze, while the other half is without makeup, suggesting a suspenseful scene and the most powerful contrast in the composition. Her expression is confident and bold; her stance and presentation becomes a power symbol. A woman of freedom, desire and determination, she is represented as breaking down gender related barriers. Instead of depicting an idealized female in terms of societal standards, Pirhashemi instead evokes this beauty through her power and colour choices, thereby dismantling gendered stereotypes. Although overwhelming and depicted in such realistic means, the scene is presented in such sterile and ethereal nature; its whiteness in its cloudy background and the white cloth surrounding the women is all too pure, shown in very bright composition ultimately realizes its fantasy.
Through his oeuvre, Pirhashemi explores the psychosocial properties of contemporary Iran and its indexes of power as they appear or are exchanged through gendered bodies and space. This evident fascination with women and their struggles in hostile environments has been translated through his distinctive style into photorealistic portraits audaciously positioned on minimalist backgrounds.