 |
| Source: MIA website. |
Qajar Women: Images of Women in 19th-Century Iran is a temporary exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) that showcases a wide variety of artworks from the Qajar period, all of which feature Persian women as the theme.
Under the patronage of Qatar Museums Chairperson, HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, this exhibition demonstrates the importance of women in the art of 19th-century Iran and shows how the topic continues to inspire contemporary artists.
According to the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), the most popular representations of the Qajar era (1779 to 1925) have been of male sovereigns whose life-size portraits exaggerate masculinity to depict power. Yet this era is also characterised by artistic modernisation in Iran. This is particularly true of paintings and photography, in which women became essential characters in the events and scenes portrayed.
The exhibition includes artworks that reflect various interpretations of female musicians, aristocratic women, women at the court and in private quarters, all exploring the rarely-told narratives of the Qajar artistic tradition. A wide variety of objects, including lacquers, water colours, manuscripts, jewellery, ceramics, and metalwork, are displayed in the Temporary Exhibition Galleries on the 4th floor of the MIA. Works by contemporary artists inspired by Qajar iconography are also on display.
Commenting on the launch, Aisha Al Khater, Director of the Museum of Islamic Art, said: ‘This innovative exhibition is designed to completely change the perception of Qajar art as a male-dominated medium. The wide variety of objects and artworks on display illustrate the ways in which images of women can be used to understand the history of their daily lives, their roles in aristocratic pursuits, how notions of feminine beauty change over time and how women were used as symbols in Qajar art. We at MIA hope these stories will capture the imagination of visitors from a wide range of communities and across cultures, just as they continue to inspire and educate artists today.’
Interested?
Qajar Women: Images of Women in 19th century Iran runs till 11 June 2016
at the MIA. The exhibition is divided into four themes: Notions of Beauty: Images of Women in Qajar Art; Daily Life; Women, Power, and Refinement; and Women as Symbols in Art.
Hashtag: #QajarWomen