Gohar Dashti
Today’s Life & War (2008)
Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
Rome, Italy [link]
Dashti’s powerfully constructed photographs speak of the legacy of war as well as the determination to engage in a “normal” life, despite the insecurity of violence and fear while living in a war zone.Inspired by the artist’s experiences during the Iran-Iraq war, the photographs depict a couple’s everyday activities amidst by a fictionalized battlefield littered with the detritus of combat. The banality of the actions and the couple’s blank facial expressions juxtaposed with the desolation surrounding them provides a sardonic commentary on the long-reaching effects of war and a glimpse into the mental fragmentation necessary to preserve normalcy.
images courtesy of the artist
