Soheila Sokhanvari: Rebel Rebel at The Barbican’s Curve

Rebel Rebel, the first major UK commission by Iranian artist Soheila Sokhanvari, celebrates and commemorates feminist icons from pre-revolutionary Iran. Sokhanvari transforms the Curve into a devotional space, populated with exquisite miniature portraits of glamorous cultural figures from Iran. The project spotlights the rarely told histories of these women, who pursued creative careers in a culture enamoured with Western style but not its freedoms. The immersive space is hand-painted floor to ceiling with geometric patterns based on traditional Islamic design. A soundtrack, composed by Marios Aristopoulos features songs by iconic Iranian singers from the period. The exhibition culminates with extravagant mirrored sculptures featuring internal projections drawn from Filmfarsi (see below).

Soheila Sokhanvari: Rebel Rebel. Installation view Barbican Art Gallery, 2022. Lia Toby / Getty Images

Each portrait is accompanied by a digital biography. You can read the full guide here, and find it at the show via QR code.

The exhibition is free with no pre-booking required.
On until the Sun 26 Feb 2023, find out more about the show here.