ELHAM ROKNI: THE ROSE AND THE NIGHTINGALE

The tension between the masculine and the feminine, alongside the dialogue between the local and the foreigner, is a central axis in the “The Rose and the Nightingale” exhibition. The exhibition, which is the first of its kind in Israel, examines the art created during the Qajar dynasty (1785-1925) through the theme of physical and spiritual love. It presents to the public for the first time items from the museum’s collection and leading collections in the world.

 

The rose and the nightingale, among the favorite images of this period, symbolize the believer’s endless longing for God and the lover’s desire for his unattainable beloved. This relationship between the male and female image resonates in various items presented in the exhibition and leads the discussion about the unique and complex relationship between Iran and the powers of Western Europe, then and now.

 

Alongside historical items, the exhibition presents works from the beginning of photography in Iran – which grew simultaneously with its development in Western Europe into a thriving court culture, and whose influence is still evident today in contemporary Iranian photography and cinema. His unique story laid the groundwork for women creators in these fields, in Iran and abroad, and is presented in the exhibition through the work of artists Shirin Neshat, Elham Rokni and Shari Hobpasfian.

 

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