Events

Sharing Experiences with Iranian Artist and Film Maker with Contribution from Dr. Jamshid Akrami Iran American Society Annual Meeting

We are delighted to have Shirin Neshat as the keynote speaker in our annual meeting on Sunday January 10, 2010. She is one of the most talented women artists/filmmakers today to talk about her experience as a films director and artist. Shirin Neshat is a leading contemporary artist. In her videos, films, and photographs she draws upon her Iranian heritage for inspiration and addresses the complexities of the contemporary Muslim world through visually arresting imagery. She has exhibited her works internationally at major museums, galleries, and performance halls.

Her numerous awards include Lillian Gish Prize (New York); Fine Art Prize from Heitland Foundation (Germany); Infinity Award for Visual Art from International Center for Photography (New York); and First International Prize at the 48th Venice Biennale (Italy). In 2009 Neshat won the Silver Lion for best director at the 66th Venice Film Festival for her directional debut "Women without Men". She said about the movie: "This has been a labour of love for six years.(...) This film speaks to the world and to my country." The film examines the 1953 British- and American-backed coup, which supplanted Iran's democratically elected government with a monarchy.

Born in Qazvin, Iran, she has lived the United States since 1974 and received an MFA from the University of California, Berkeley.