Earthly and Divine Love in Late Persian Art
July 18 2023 - December 31 2023
Curator: Liza Lurie
Designer: Jonathan Canetti
Spertus Gallery
A visually captivating exhibition, the first of its kind in Israel, sheds light on Iranian Qajar culture of the 18th and 19th centuries through depictions of idealized beauty, love, and erotica. The objects on display encompass large portraits, mythic sculptures, exquisitely crafted personal items, and much more, drawn from the Israel Museum’s holdings and from leading collections worldwide.
A special chapter presents an iconic video installation by renowned Iranian artist Shirin Neshat on the subject of the feminine voice, as well as works by other contemporary Iranian women artists that draw inspiration from the Qajar period. This rich, resonant cultural array conveys the tension between earthly and divine love and the dialogue between masculinity and femininity in Iranian national identity, ceremonies, and daily life.
Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Derech Ruppin 11
