Shadi Ghadirian: Retrospective Exhibition

From October 6 to December 23, 2018

The Muscari association is pleased to present the work of photographer Shadi Ghadirian at the Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan (Armenia).

This exhibition, co-organized by Muscari and the Cafesjian Museum Foundation, reviews the artistic career of Iranian photographer Shadi Ghadirian through 7 series from 1998 to 2011.

Today recognized as a key representative of contemporary Iranian photography, Shadi Ghadirian develops an original work that questions the place of women in today’s Iran.

Through a subtle blend of poetry and derision, the photographer manages to denounce metaphorically the constraints and paradoxes that Iranian women – and others – face daily.

As Manoug Pamokdjian, president of Muscari, puts it, “One of Shadi Ghadirian’s photographic techniques for breaking the infertile codes of tradition is based on the oxymoron, that is, the meeting of opposites. Where the eye is accustomed to seeing images of normality, Shadi Ghadirian imposes a vision that contradicts the generally accepted rules. This marriage of opposites produces in the spectator a psychological discomfort of such brutality that it enters his mind to the point of provoking a real sting of conscience”.

The retrospective, unique in Armenia, is presented in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of Armenia, the Municipal Library of Lyon and the Family Care Foundation.

The catalog of the exhibition is available online on the following page!

On the occasion of the exhibition, three events were organized in the presence of Shadi Ghadirian:

• Opening on Friday, October 5, you can have an overview from it through this video.
• Masterclass on Saturday, October 6 (11:00am-1:00pm) for professionals photographers, studios, artists and students
• “Encounters with Art” on Saturday, October 6 (6:00pm-8:00pm) during which the artist will talk about her career and answer questions from the public alongside exhibition curators, Anahita Ghabaian (Silk Road Gallery in Teheran) and Sylvie Aznavourian (Municipal Library of Lyon).

Exhibition location: Cafesjian Center for the Arts – 10 Tamanyan St., Yerevan 0009, Armenia