Ayyam Gallery Dubai Presents Gordafarid
The solo exhibition of Dubai-based painter Roshanak Aminelahi.
About the Show
In her debut exhibition with Ayyam Gallery, Aminelahi will present a new series of mixed media paintings that are inspired by ancient mythology, such as the Shahnameh, an epic poem written in 1000 A.D. Included in the exhibition are monumental portraits of Persian warriors alongside the objects that represent specific stories. For the artist, these captivating figures not only speak of her Iranian heritage and the rich culture in which she was raised, but also reflect the diversity of Dubai, where she has lived and worked for more than a decade. Although the new series was composed with the ‘filter’ of Persian culture, her latest paintings reflect universal subjects like war, love, and heroism—poetic themes that are shared among the many cultures of this cosmopolitan city.
The show’s title is adapted from an included work that depicts the heroine Gordafarid, the powerful, defiant daughter of a celebrated warrior who is said to have protected Persia from an invading army after the defense’s leader was captured. Joining the battle, she disguised herself as a male soldier and delayed the approaching army by boldly charging at them. In a recent interview, the artist remarked that when she heard the story of Kurdish women taking up arms to protect their villages in Northern Syria, she was immediately reminded of the story of Gordafarid.
