Be Fekret Hastam (which translates as “on the road”) is a solo exhibit by Iranian-born artist Naz Shahrokh showcasing her diverse conceptual art pieces ranging from sculptural objects to installations and embroidered works. On view at XVA Gallery in Dubai, the show will be open to the public until the 19th of May, 2024.
The displayed artworks include A Brief History of Time which comprises about 200 silver maple leaves installed on the wall in such a way as to reference the flight of swifts during migration. This art piece presents mini snapshots of the natural environment where Shahrokh has captured the fleeting landscapes in the last 16 years.
Another work on display is Spice Line, an installation that directly references the Silk Road. Featuring 324 glass vial jars with exotic spices and herbs on a shelf, the installation pays tribute to the richness of human culture. The materials assembled from gathered spices and herbs are inspired by the Gulf region, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Among the exhibits is also Map Tree (we’re all connected). It is an interactive, collaborative work on a tree that grows in one of XVA Gallery’s central courtyards. It is composed of about 11,000 collected maps in recycled plastic envelopes, where the public has written or drawn their reflections. This project was initiated at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival (Washington, D.C.) in 2022 and later was installed in the Al Fahidi District.
About the artist
Naz Shahrokh (b. 1969, Tehran, Iran) is an artist and educator based in Abu Dhabi, whose practice encompasses photography, drawing, video, and site-specific installations. She earned her BFA in Painting with a Minor in Art History from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn (New York, USA) in 1993. In 1997, she obtained her MFA and MS degrees from the same institute, where she later taught Fine Arts and Art History from 1998 to 2008. Shahrokh moved to Egypt in 2004 and worked as an Assistant Professor of Art at the American University in Cairo until 2006. Since 2008, the artist has been an Associate Professor at Zayed University (Abu Dhabi).
The key element in Shahrokh’s work is the deep connection with nature. In her practice closely aligned with research, she delves into common challenges found within the environment and reflects on metaphysics, sustainability, and cultural traditions. Using synthetic and/or organic detritus (leaves, sticks, bottles, etc.), the artist creates objects harmonious with the natural environment. She draws inspiration from a plethora of sources, such as Persian miniature painting, Land Art, Minimalism, Conceptual art, and Native American sandpainting.
Shahrokh has displayed her creations in multiple exhibitions which include SIKKA Art Fair, XVA Gallery, Dubai, 2019 and 2017); The Retrieval of the Beautiful (The Painting Center, NYC, NY, 2016); Library Thoughts-5 (MAMU Gallery, Budapest, Hungary, 2015); Prague Quadrennial (Arts & Theater Institute, Prague, Czech Republic, 2011); the 2nd Biennale of the Artist Book (The Alexandria Library, Alexandria, Egypt, 2006); and many others.
Among the several awards and grants Shahrokh has received are, for example, the Prix Monte Dei Fiori (Galerie Metanoia, Paris, 2015), the T.I.N.A. Prize (she became a finalist) (Amsterdam, Madrid, and Milan Edition, Winter 2015), Artist-In-The-Marketplace Fellowship (The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY, 2004), and Change Inc. (the Rauschenberg Foundation) Grant (Captiva, FL, USA, 2003), to mention a few. The list of residencies the artist has undertaken includes Vermont Studio Residency (Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont, USA, 2006) and Abruzzi Mountain Studio Residency (Anversa, Italy, 2005).
To get more information about Be Fekret Hastam, please visit the show’s official web page.
You might also be interested in attending Moataz Nasr’s solo show Bottle Neck.
To stay tuned and be sure that you will not miss our latest art news, you can join our Telegram channel.
