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Shirazeh Houshiary

String

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Explore the ethereal sculptures & installations of Shirazeh Houshiary, a Turner Prize-nominated Iranian artist blending Sufi mysticism & Persian influence. Discover her captivating work at MoMA & Tate.
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String

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$ 265

Three gyrating forms of interconnected gray fibers emanate from the dark blue field of this painting. The center of each is punctured by a black or white spot. As in many of her works, the artist started with a crosshatched rendition of two Persian words to generate the delicate, pulsating web pattern seen here. The words are obscured by their repetition, so the viewer cannot deduce their meaning with the naked eye. According to Houshiary: "It is like something coming into existence out of nothing and where the web has been punctured, there is an absence of breath." The torqueing of the membrane and the abstraction of the words themselves create a riveting tension in the composition and raise questions about physical presence and its effects.

Questions & Answers

What aliases or alternate names does Shirazeh Houshiary have?

Shirazeh Houshiary is also known as شیرازه هوشیاری.

Who made "String", and when?

"String" was created by Shirazeh Houshiary in 2012.

Can I see an X-ray view of "String" by Shirazeh Houshiary?

The X-Ray view of "String" by Shirazeh Houshiary is on the artwork's X-Ray page: an interactive examination of the image through eleven optical layers.

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Artist Biography

Shirazeh Houshiary: Echoes of Sufi Mysticism in Sculptural Form

Shirazeh Houshiary, born January 15, 1955, in Shiraz, Iran, stands as a singular voice within contemporary sculpture and installation art—a testament to the enduring power of cultural heritage blended with innovative artistic exploration. Her journey from Iranian roots to London’s vibrant art scene reflects not merely geographical relocation but a profound engagement with spiritual traditions that permeate her creative process. Houshiary's work consistently seeks to grapple with paradoxical concepts – presence versus absence, sound versus silence, surface versus depth—mirroring the complexities inherent in human experience and inviting viewers into contemplative dialogue.
  • Early Life & Education:
    • Houshiary’s formative years were steeped in Persian culture, fostering an appreciation for intricate patterns and symbolism that would later become foundational to her artistic vocabulary.
  • Chelsea School of Art Influence:
    • Her studies at Chelsea School of Art, London (1976–9), exposed her to influential peers like Richard Deacon and Anish Kapoor, shaping her understanding of sculptural materiality and conceptual rigor.
  • Sufi Inspiration & Jalal ad-Din Rumi:
    • Central to Houshiary’s artistic ethos is the Sufi mystical doctrine championed by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi—a 13th-century Persian poet whose verses explore themes of divine unity and transformative contemplation.
Her sculptural practice distinguishes itself through a meticulous layering technique, often spanning months to complete. Surfaces are composed of intricate patterns that pulsate with subtle movement, resembling veils or membranes – a deliberate allusion to the concept of concealment and revelation. This painstaking process reflects Houshiary’s belief in confronting duality and paradox as pathways to artistic truth. The resulting sculptures—towering structures crafted from glass or aluminum bricks—are not merely objects but embodiments of conceptual ideas, mirroring the spiraling ascent toward enlightenment. Each vertical plane rotates incrementally to maximize its form's potential, symbolizing a continuous striving for wholeness.
  • Notable Projects:
  • "Breath" Tower (Creative Time Plaza Series):
    • This monumental installation in New York City exemplifies Houshiary’s commitment to exploring grand themes of scale and materiality while simultaneously conveying a sense of ethereal beauty.
  • East Window Commission (St Martin-in-the-Fields Church):
    • Her collaborative project with Pip Horne resulted in a striking stained glass window that embodies Houshiary’s artistic vision—a fusion of geometric precision and spiritual contemplation.
Houshiary's work has garnered recognition from prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Tate Collection. Her sculptures are celebrated for their ability to provoke reflection on fundamental questions about existence and perception. Furthermore, Houshiary’s engagement with animation—particularly her collaborations with Mark Hatchard—extends her artistic explorations beyond traditional sculptural mediums, enriching the dialogue between art and visual storytelling. Shirazeh Houshiary continues to push boundaries in contemporary sculpture, cementing her legacy as an artist deeply rooted in Persian heritage yet resolutely committed to universal artistic ideals.
Shirazeh Houshiary

Shirazeh Houshiary

1955 -

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Shirazeh Houshiary
  • Nationality: Iranian
  • Date Of Birth: 1955
  • Place Of Birth: Shiraz, Iran
  • Notable Artworks: ['Breath']
  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Contemporary Sculpture
  • Artists Who Influenced This Artist:
    • Richard Deacon
    • Anish Kapoor
  • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Sufi Mysticism']
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