Chalisée Naamani

Naamani layers and collages images, fabrics and text from diverse sources to produce sculpture, print and textile works. Her ‘image-garments’ often resemble items of clothing or refer to the history of fashion while asserting their status as sculpture, not intended to be worn. Rather, they invite us to reflect upon the political dimension of attire and how questions of form, function and aesthetics are bound to power and cultural meaning.

The title and design of the exhibition refer to the Zurkhaneh [House of Strength]: In Iran and neighbouring countries, this training space features an octagonal ring and is dedicated to the practice of Varzesh-e Pahlavani, a martial art rooted in the pre-Islamic period. Following the Arab conquest of Iran in the seventh century, the sport was banned due to its perceived revolutionary potential as a form of cultural and physical resistance. More recently, the practice of Varzesh-e Pahlavani – long dominated exclusively by men – has been claimed by women in the context of emancipatory movements in Iran. The artist invokes the role of sculpture as a site of negotiation to address the influence of pop culture and questions of political resistance, gender stereotypes, migration and belonging.

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with Palais de Tokyo, Paris.