In Your Dreams: Emancipatory Perspectives on Identity and Gender at Bayt AlMamzar

Bayt AlMamzar in Dubai presents “In Your Dreams,” an evocative exhibition running from August 3 to October 12, 2024. Curated by Yalda Bidshahri, the show features the work of artists Dorsa Asadi, Chupan Atashi, Gisou Golshani, Fatemeh Kazemi, Lilian Nejatpour, Niloofar Taatizadeh, and Maryam Tafakory.

The exhibition delves into the question, “What can we dream into reality?” with newly commissioned and existing artworks that intertwine traditional elements of Iranian culture with imagination and provocation. These pieces offer emancipatory perspectives on identity and gender.

A notable multimedia installation recalls the Saghi, a young cupbearer boy of feminine beauty, conveying a dismantled embodiment. In a powerful series of photographs, self-portraits set against intensifying public backdrops transform into resilient wildflowers, metaphorically reflecting mechanisms of restraint. Found cinema footage interwoven with original text highlights the limitations imposed by regulatory bodies on representation.

Innovative new media techniques using textiles reproduce paintings of embracing couples, where blurred gender binaries counteract erasure. Archival sounds and revolutionary chants form a soundscape echoing hopes for liberated futures. A sculpture inspired by a dream of a sacred tree adorned with hair references both divine and abject femininity. Additionally, glazed ceramic pieces rooted in ancestral crafts explore ongoing feminist struggles, advocating a shift from anger and grief toward radical joy.

The exhibition is accompanied by public programming, a library, and an upcoming publication, providing a comprehensive exploration of the themes presented.

About Yalda Bidshahri

Yalda Bidshahri, an Iranian writer and curator based in the United Arab Emirates, creates communal spaces of imagination and freedom. Her exhibitions, programs, and publications are developed in close collaboration with artists and practitioners from various disciplines.

About Bayt AlMamzar

Bayt AlMamzar, an independent art space in Dubai, was founded to meet the needs of the local contemporary creative community. The space embraces innovative, experimental, and collaborative approaches, promoting constructive critical dialogue and the free exchange of opinions. Bayt AlMamzar houses artist studios, residency programs, exhibitions, public programs, and a growing library collection.