Artist Koushna Navabi speaks at the opening of her solo show for Xerxes art gallery, London. Mediums and materials used ranged from cloth, to embroidery to paint to even a glove and topics range from Iranian past leaders to the chemical components of oil.
Recorded March 09 with Fari Bradley for Six Pillars to Persia, a weekly radio Middle East Arts and Culture show on UK’s art-music radio station Resonance104.4FM.
Navabi is taking part in a group show with Six Pillars in London, June 2013, for more details see the links below.
Broadcasting Friday 19.30-20hrs repeating Wed 13.30-14hrs www.sixpillars.org
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Tag Archives: sculpture
Six Pillars – Cosmic Geometry
Monir with a relief piece, 1970s. Photo courtesy of artist
John Cage called her ‘that beautiful Persian girl‘, Jackson Pollock, though unfriendly, openly declared an admiration for her art. Born 1924 in Iran, Monir Farmanfarmaian later brought a flavour of Iran to New York’s avant garde, amongst whom she was circulating. It was often reported that one of her pieces had its place on Andy Warhol’s desk for example.
Her signature work has been since that time, fractal mirror sculpture, mirror mosaic and reverse-painted glass which overall embodies her lifelong fascination for natural beauty and light. And as any sprightly octogenarian still producing work should, Farmanfarmaian has just released a book: Cosmic Geometry ((Damiani Editore & The Third Line, Edited by Hans Ulrich Obrist) with passages written by such artist friends as Frank Stella and Shirin Neshat.
In this frank interview the artist discusses her first moment’s of inspiration with mirrors, kills a money spider, reflects on her life and personal art collection and bemoans the proliferation of cheap Chinese products in Iran.
Art Monthly Talk Show 11th May 2012
Two features from the May 2012 edition of Art Monthly are discussed with writers Paul O’Kane and Omar Kholeif.
Omar Kholeif is a writer and curator at FACT, Liverpool, a visiting curator at Cornerhouse, Manchester, and is associate curator at the Arab British Centre, London. Paul O’Kane is an artist, writer and lecturer based in London.
The Thing- Do you believe in things? asks Paul O’Kane
In a western world dominated by immaterial labour, and where scientists and philosophers have thrown into doubt our understanding of physical objects, how have artists – from John McCracken and John Hilliard to Wood & Harrison and Andrew Dodds – questioned and defended the nature of things?
‘Sculpture, of all the arts, must surely be responsible for mapping the various journeys of thinghood. “What is a Thing?” – the question Heidegger asked in the 1920s – turns out to be a question that we have to keep asking.’
Man Machine- Omar Kholeif tracks the influences of Kraftwerk
With a recent move into exhibition making, German ‘robot pop’ group Kraftwerk has crossed disciplines into the visual arts. But which are the artists that the group borrowed from and who are the current artists, such as Jill Magid and Wafaa Bilal, that exemplify Kraftwerk’s man-machine ethos?
‘Kraftwerk’s evocation of the cyborg has been discussed within academic music circles but rarely has its influence been positioned alongside contemporary visual art. For example, the work of infamous Cypriot-Australian performance and media artist Stelarc, who has used medical instruments, prosthetics and robotics to explore and alter how his body interfaces with its surroundings.’
The programme is hosted by Matt Hale who has worked at Art Monthly since 1991.
Previous episodes are available on Art Monthly’s website www.artmonthly.co.uk/events.htm
Art Monthly magazine offers an informed and comprehensive guide to the latest developments in contemporary art.
Fiercely independent, Art Monthly’s news and opinion sections provide regular information and polemics on the
international art scene. It also offers In-depth interviews and features; reviews of exhibitions, performances, films and books; art law; auction reports and exhibition listings
Art Monthly magazine is indispensable reading!
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Terry Smith – Artist
Artist Terry Smith who since 1978, has produced major projects for the Tate Modern, the British Museum and galleries the world over, particularly in South America. Known for his signature sculptures cut directly into the plaster of walls, mainly of derelict buildings – some with no public access – Smith is constantly experimenting with medium and has used film, audio and varied materials for his work.
Winner of the Paul Hamlyn Award, Smith with his communist upbringing is at times renegade about his work. His wide choice of mediums have in common the resonances of the London streets he grew up in, his love of music, spontaneity and the challenges that come with constant questioning and experimentation. At Frieze this year Adam Curtis implored the artists of today to shock him with kindness, empathy and such-like qualities. Perhaps he is one of those who still haven’t heard of Smith, the artist’s artist.
Recorded and produced by Fari Bradley.
Six Pillars – Mahmoud Bakhshi at Saatchi
An interview with award winning artist Mahmoud Bakhshi as he begins his three day residency and prepares for his historic solo show at Saatchi Gallery. The interview is translated by curator Vali Mahlouji, one of the people who nominated Mahmoud for the Magic of Persia Contemporary Arts Prize (MOPCAP) in the first place.
Mahmoud Bakhshi draws inspiration for his works from the political and social issues that surround him. Born in Tehran, Iran, he is a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, and has exhibited internationally since 2006. Mahmoud is also supported by the Delfina Foundation.
First broadcast on Sept 20th 2010 from ResonanceFM studios