Turbulent by Shirin Neshat

In Turbulent, Neshats 1998 two-screen video installation, two singers (Shoja Azari playing the role of the male and Iranian Vocalist and composer Sussan Deyhim as the female) create a powerful musical metaphor for the complexity of gender roles and cultural power within the framework of ancient Persian music and poetry.

[@SimonDouville1]

A sentence came to my mind while seeing this: men have people behind them, women must face alone the emptiness their life became, yet their silenced voice is louder then any men voices.

[@bazmihammas7583]

bro no one came to her show cuz her shit wack

[@anonymous203020]

What power in this video! The longing in the man's melody and the agony in the woman's plaintive repetitive wails. I have never been to Iran, but I feel like I know Iran better because of this art. What beauty, and what pain, experienced simultaneously.

[@LeonardDavich]

I think I saw this video when it first showed, at the Venice Biennale. One does not realize that the two screens were facing each other in a spacious and dark room, the viewer was caught in between. I've seen my fair share of art but I still remember this installation as the most powerful (artistic) experience I've had.

[@bibsma3401]

me too in Chicago

[@leilamars3370]

me too in Montreal. Thanks for reminding me about the two screens. I went back to the exhibit multiple times just to sit in that room and watch it over and over. I second your last sentence: it was the most powerful artistic experience I've ever had as well, by far.

[@everycoLor_312]

i was inspired in that moment..installation was bold impact

[@jonasanderss8n]

the very same experience @Centre for Contemporary Art Warsaw something like 15 years ago. Gives me goosebumps even today.

[@adrijanaspacapan4318]

Vila Manin, Udine Italy, 2004

[@meow61]

The female singer's anguished style is so haunting..a voice from many many centuries ago,straining for expression and never given an ear ever by the male dominated world..The conceptualization of this video is brilliant. The way the voice richochets in the empty theater is such a strong symbolism for the unheard 50% of women population in Iran and many many other countries.

[@gilakjan]

In my wildest dreams I could could have never imagined how beautifully and effectivelyt a vocalist can picture centuries of suffering and ignorance. Well done.

[@TheExarion]

Saw this at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth recently. As another commenter pointed out, the split screen is actually two individual projections facing each other in a room, so you are meant to stand between the two videos as they play out. Easily one of the most mesmerizing and captivating artistic experiences I've ever witnessed in person.

[@kuroichan101]

I really get this video and its amazing. The singing in the video was interesting as well since my art teacher told me when the lady begins to do the scream thing, its a cry for all the women treated unfairly as well. Their vocal skills are amazing too.

[@ifxtile6395]

I agree :)

[@amiyumi06]

you can hear the suffering in her voice, of wanting to be heard and not ignored

[@aazablue]

wow...i keep coming back to this piece...each time, a different feeling is invoked... this is a powerful piece of artwork that speaks in universal tones.

[@bazmihammas7583]

i see u like to smoke crack my friend

[@natalievallee-nicolls4833]

An interesting commentary on how men's art is recognized in the public sphere, while women's art is not recognized and continues to be of the domestic. But by creating this piece and launching it on the net, women's art is brought into the public sphere showing its importance and value within the community.

[@seul2sistas]

+Natalie Vallee I think you're forgetting the context of this artwork, it is set in a particular place and society... I don't think launching things on the net was a concern to Shirin Neshat.

[@gordonangeliquer6840]

yes I absolutely agree. the man is recognized for his art where as the woman is closed away. her art is beyond that of the man and her pain echoes.

[@kieranmorris7315]

seul2sistas is right, this is set in an Iranian context, of which Shirin Neshat is from. This work primarily does highlight the lack of recognition of female art, but particularly within Iran, where it is mostly banned And Shirin Neshat presented this artwork at the Venice Biennale, so yeah the internet wasnt the primary stage for it. Just a little art knowledge for you @Natalie Vallee

[@melagari2342]

Hey marxists! Quit this snakish language! The crazy ayatollah bans women from public sphere, so this is a protest. Say it simple! Islam is a disease but PERSIANS do not succumb to it like the Arabized Semites.

[@melagari2342]

Allah, perchance, the secret word might spell; If Allah be, He keeps His secret well;  What He hath hidden, who shall hope to find? Shall God His secret to a maggot tell? … The Koran! well, come put me to the test- Lovely old book in hideous error drest-  Believe me, I can quote the Koran too, The unbeliever knows his Koran best. And do you think that unto such as you, A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew,  God gave the secret, and denied it me?- Well, well, what matters it! believe that too. (Khayyam)

[@MagdaMagdy90]

This 9 mins vid got me startled, Sussan managed to deliver with such exuberant strength and tone of voice, an immensely, spine-chilling peice that resonates with human suffering and the famished feminine soul.

[@Officefreak22]

Saw this at the Hirshhorn in summer 2015 and still think about it to this day

[@Lazybutnotreally]

I can't understand how a human vocal cords can make such powerful sounds...

[@mizofan]

Wow! It engulfs with its powerful waves of sound, what a statement on gender roles, the separation, the female with no audience, the man whos just been applauded by the crowd (even with back turned) now stunned by the the voice making itself heard, a voice imbued with the force of centuries, anguish, yearning this film is an absolute marvel, says more in 9 minutes than most directors manage in a lifetime.

[@mehradoo]

name of the album is "ey doost" and its the first track (1st side), u can google it.

[@meow61]

The female singer's anguished style is so haunting..a voice from many many centuries ago,straining for expression and never given an ear ever by the male dominated world..The conceptualization of this video is brilliant.

[@MerleHeidi]

Beautiful music -- and a profound concept. Thank you.

[@helenaki9999999999]

I think i am shocked from these 2 voices so as from the video presentation...Wow...this is astonishing...So pure and deep feelings....

[@kay-gu1im]

Saw this at the modern art museum today it was so beautiful and it gave me a sense of power

[@ifxtile6395]

Same

[@technisleeve]

this is one of my all time favorite pieces of video installation and proved to be the precursor for my own experiments in video and video installation pieces. thank you for posting this

[@longliveisrael2]

Title: ghame eshghe Singer Shahram Nazari (the one singing in this video is Lipsing) Poet by : Rumi (Molavi)

[@Mark_]

Right Title of the music the man singing is Memorial friend (Yadgare Dost) by singer, Shahram Nazari. longliveisrael2

[@rezastella777]

The words are from one of Rumi’s ‘Poems of passion’ and it should be explained that it’s not possible to do an exact translation as the lines are from an ancient language and lyrics.

[@exitt18]

Very beautiful, very powerful. She is truly a gifted film maker.

[@brendalouie8447]

powerful and haunting, incredible psychological, emotional, visual effects with amazing aesthetics! thank you!

[@birdwatcherize]

Yadegare Doost by Shahram Nazeri is one of the most beautiful songs ever

[@laurelsyriac1306]

So powerful, captivating and beautiful💜🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@rezastella777]

2- How long like a prisoner of grief can I beg for mercy? You know I’m not a piece of rock or steel, But hearing my story even water will become as tense as a stone. If I can only recount the story of my life, Right out of my body flames will grow.

[@araamin1]

Absolutely amazing ! Respect,love,greetings,love and peace from Iraqi Kurdistan 3

[@sssnacksss]

I show this to my students and try to explain - although the "feminine" side is almost always more powerful and interesting for them, it doesn't mean that the "masculine" side isn't good - in fact it is a famous work by a legendary poet (Rumi). Rather it seems that Neshat is speaking more about culture in general - that culture is a canon, and that the canon can be beloved, but it also represents the void of the multitudes it left outside. For a foreign audience for whom the weight of Persian language and culture doesn't have an effect on, the more idosyncratic and personal performance at the end feels more universal and penetrating than the one with "culture" to support it.

[@alessioarenachannel]

I just saw it in an exposition in Barcelona and I was beautifully shocked.

[@SeaCreationEvents]

Notice that the man has audience, and is singing in classic Iranian style. The woman also sings (speaks), but to no held audience and does not sing in any known language (nobody understands her). The men hear her, but do not listen. This 9 minute video holds more insights into the turmoil around contemporary Iran, and larger Arab world, than thousands of hours of trolling through media and news archives.

[@nazilakivi3980]

Iran is not the Arab world or an Arabic country.

[@PaulSmith-pf2uq]

Nazila Kivi Racist much? Iran is as Islamic a country as any other in the Arab world. Stop being petty.

[@kchain12]

@@PaulSmith-pf2uq shut up iran is not part of the Arab world and will never be. Our culture is totally different and most of us do not get along with Arabs or like them so don't try to link yourselves to us because we will never be like you. Iran s original religion is not Islam but zartosht most of us hate Islam. We are not like you with the same mind of a sheep

[@kchain12]

Iran is not part of the Arab world stupid idiot. Learn some facts. Iran has its own culture and history seperate from Arabs

[@kchain12]

@@PaulSmith-pf2uq persian culture is very much ancient and came thousands of years before Islam. Islam is Arabs culture not Iranians. Most of Iranians hate Islam and despise it. We are proud of our persian heritage. Persian culture has nothing to do with Islam and was present in Iran way before, zoroastrism is Iran's culture. So keep your mouth shut and stick to your arab countries kessafat

[@PINDERX]

yes! It's the most beautiful video ever. period. It's so good it makes me want to quit...

[@anandgola7420]

woow they used music as a language thats some amazing use of music

[@everycoLor_312]

..this is my all time favorite video!!!

[@everycoLor_312]

i experienced the actual installation at the MCA chicago..thankyou!

[@ashrafmurad80]

I saw this in a gallery in Qatar back in 2014. Still remember it to this day

[@Ylremik]

I saw this piece installed in NYC, MOMA, IIRC. It is amazing.

[@2697696f]

c'est magnifique!

[@jojobi-wankenobi]

This was incredible.

[@jmjmusic]

So powerful and well done.

[@anomalek]

again, the male voice is that of the Shahram Nazeri, and the female voice that of Sussan Deyhim. someone asked about where to find Sussan Deyhim's work - apart from the album this is on - Turbulent - she has a phenomenal release on Crammed Discs called Desert Equations: Azax Attra, as well as another called Madman of God. Shahram Nazeri's work is harder to find in the US, but there are a few mainstream labels with some collections of his instrumental work.

[@mimmy0858]

I saw this at the Miami Art Museum in 2001, such an inspiring artist...

[@synthetic0812]

amazing music, and amazing video...

[@khadijeha3042]

Sussan's work is inspired by Nunavut throat singing artists.

[@dreadaught]

Or Tuvan.

[@monak7960]

Amazing work!!!!!!!!!!! Respect for Your brave soul and great talent as the Artist!!!- All best -mona k.

[@shakaom]

este año pude verlo en el Caixa Forum de Madrid. Solo puedo decir que s eme pusieron los pelos de punta! muy potente!

[@01choicelover]

admire the contrasts displayed in this video

[@highsynthesis]

true love in art :) bravo!

[@Neuroneos]

She wins

[@nagymaris]

Thank you very much for the poem. It is beautiful. I will read some Rumi :) Thank you again.

[@azulkali]

a phenomenal piece of work!

[@ifxtile6395]

I agree with this statement because

[@mahshidbazargani6171]

Wow astonishing

[@Lindix61]

great artist! in minutes says a lot more than a thousand debates

[@EstreallaGisell]

Beautiful.

[@rockababe1000]

Пелевин привёл меня сюда.

[@aliwesker]

lyrics in most cases has the biggest role obviously after the voice . singers like Hayedeh , Sima Bina and Googoosh made their Name and glory mainly of the lyrics , although one cannot disagree on overall suppression of women in Iran. you cannot even mumble the vocals that Deyhim sings. which makes it easier to forget . songs like that reminds people of memories bring their singer to life even after they pass away. props to all the people who dedicated something to the art .

[@AlexanderNikolov]

great video!

[@matt24hours]

Very powerful.

[@oentezami]

I saw this video in Detroit. Beautiful female vocalist, she was trying to express years of hervpain, she has a microphone theater lots of seat but no words or vocabulary for her to verbalized her feeling, The male vocalist is saying " the tip of your lash is enoigh for me," can she say the same thing. She is a proud woman and can not use male expression to express herself. She is going to creat her own vocabulary. Nice piece of art.

[@Glocky131]

Women of Allah are my favourite set of photographs by Shiri Neshat

[@rezastella777]

yes this is a love song :)

The experience of seeing Shirin Neshat's 2 Channels Video Installation confronted in a exhibition room has almost nothing to do with the experience of a Split screen on our telephones.

[@nagymaris]

yes please, - would be nice :) - Thank you

[@Mercedes892]

Impresionante.

[@alicali]

Лайк, если вы тут из Пелевина iPhuck10)

[@user-sv8sq4xd2z]

Алиса Ли , О! Алиса Ли! ) Приятно. Да, из Пелевина ))). Вижу, уровень вашей вовлеченности в его творчество весьма высок. Не думал, что кто-то ещё зайдет сюда из-за Виктора Олеговича ))), а тут сама Алиса Ли )))

[@alicali]

да, именно так) я формально сменила имя)

[@sergeyli2270]

Да, прочитал ПВО и тоже пришёл взглянуть на "пожилого бабца в макияже")

[@yevgenrybyanets9543]

Когда зашел и увидел количество просмотров, то подумал что тут все по наводке Олегыча. Оказывается нас не так уж много. Ознакомился. до конца не дослушал. всем спасибо.

[@GlebSanych]

А я думал это выдуманный персонаж. Оказывается нет. Перепутал с Захой Хадид :-)

[@marcsoviche8769]

Je viens de prendre connaissance de cette musique. Elle émet une telle profondeur que je ne m'étonne pas que la Perse ait donné au monde une grande partie de sa culture. Bien avant que ce pays soit submergé par les tribus mahométanes. Je me trompe sans doute mais j'ai reconnu des accents de grégorien, des accords corses et sans doute bien d'autres connivences. C'est assez merveilleux.

[@alejimenez6202]

increible :)

[@julian73de]

beautiful

[@zucchannie]

amazing

[@televisionforghosts]

thank you

[@benjamindbailey]

1:31 Whoa, wait, what? Awesome vocals!

[@MrEvilOne]

@biba2404, I think you are right, the complexity of gendered roles is a fluid thought that has universal value, Turbulent is a piece thats speak to all. This look from an Iranian woman speaks truth about the subjugation of all women. Great Work.

[@rezastella777]

i would recommend you to read about " Rumi " . he was the greatest persian poem. im sure you will fall in love with his ideas and poems. :)

[@mizofan]

This is staggering.

[@tros89]

tuve la oportunidad de ver la vídeo-instalación en vivo en mi ciudad. no tengo palabras para definir lo que se quiere decir en este vídeo, simplemente, increíble.

[@Amr_Elkholy]

♥ love for all, hatred for none ♥

[@kefkahkefkah]

WOW!

[@rezastella777]

happy to hear that :) i will translate the poem for you if you would like

[@susanagoyeneche3599]

maravilhosa

[@nagymaris]

Thank you for your answer - this is probably the best news i heard this entire month :) ...to me this means there extists a happy solution to this dilemma.. for muslims and christians alike.. as the entire trubadour culture is our inheritance from the Middle East.. cluless as men may stand in front of the collective unhappiness of women they somewhere deep love us foremost...

[@rg0057]

I also just saw this there. I sought it out here because it's easier to see both screens at the same time. You do lose a bit of the division or confrontation with a side-by-side placement though. It's a choice of losing it by not having 360-degree vision, or losing it by side-by-side placement. A better choice would have been to show these as if projected at angles to us and each other, so we could see them both, but they would also appear to face each other a bit.

[@MindworldofTartini]

Yapı kredi yayınlarının sanat dünyamız isimli dergisini bir tren yolculuğunda incelerken öğrendim bu güzel eseri…

[@paolacarrasco233]

Fascinating. What is this style of singing called? For both the man and woman.

[@sheidaradfar3051]

Voice of singer is ostad shahram nazeri

[@lenny9977]

I remember watching this in my photo class 😂😂

[@SamanthaDiaz33]

Me gusta como la autora cuestiona los lados opuestos marcando contrastes visuales, luz-oscuridad, blanco, negro, masculino, femenino...vemos cómo él canta muy entusiasmado en un auditorio lleno, mientras que ella canta de espaldas ante un auditorio vacío

[@bazmihammas7583]

bro me duelen las bolas cuando escucho esto

[@badaouiah]

@passionaria You got it!

[@7528852]

i dont understand this but its powerful!

[@EvolJi]

Никого не слушай, ты реально талант. Иди к своей цели. Меня тоже не слушай.

[@dreenaghdarrell1058]

Serpentine Gallery, London.

[@rezastella777]

1- How long can I lament with this depressed heart and soul? How long can I remain a sad autumn ever since my grief has shed my leaves? My entire heart and soul is burning in agony. How long can I hide the flames wanting to rise out of this fire? How long can one suffer the pain of hatred of another human? A friend behaving like an enemy with a broken heart. How much more can I take the message from body to soul? I believe in love. I swear by love. Believe me my love.

[@michael-davidblostein9766]

Does anyone know the significance of the words the man is singing? I see it written here that the words are by Rumi - are they about love? Protest? Suffering? Do these create a contrast or interplay with Sussan Deyhim's performance that I'm missing?

[@Medizina4u]

Haunting-lots of suffering !

[@yorikthepoor]

@ERiiK98 Do you know Meredith Monk? Worth checking out.

[@hhsmm]

@TUniqueUK In Jomhoory bi ahamiyat nist, ey kash ke be ahamiyat bood, ma dar be dar nemishodim! va in joomhoory ro hamin mardom bevejood avordan, va dar in movie kheili vazeh gofteh shod ke ta farhange tak takemoon avaz nashe, hamin asho hamin kasast!

[@PerfectlyImbalanced]

How can I get this with English subtitles ?

[@MyGoodFeelings]

its Sussan Deyhim

[@nagymaris]

I am curious and i do not understand Iranian - does the man sing a love song to a woman? - it sounds like it for European ear. would be an interesting aspect to this scene..

[@chichini100]

Anyone knows the name of this song by Nazeri?

[@imadelkhechen5689]

Is the delay between image and sound in the woman's part intentional?

[@RavensEndClementine]

Just saw this at the DIA Exhibit. It loses so much power when you're not between the screens.