The Grand Cypher: Hip Hop, Iran & Syria curated by Julie Ashcraft
Rush Arts Gallery / April 24 - May 24, 2014
Rush Arts Gallery in Chelsea is pleased to announce the opening of The Grand Cypher: Hip Hop, Iran & Syria group exhibition featuring the work of Tammam Azzam, Alonzo Brown (the original Mr. Hyde), Caitlin Cherry, Aline Dolinh, Farid Farlek, Humans of Tehran artists collective, Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi, Immortal Technique, Jenny Holzer, Kinetics, Kim Noble, Shahpour Pouyan, Rakim, Sadra Shahab, Elias Shalhoub, Sham MCs, Spiritual Mic, Siavash Talaei (Sis Tan), Francis A. Willey, and Ehsan Ziya (Atour). The opening party is April 24 from 6-8pm at 526 West 26th Street, Suite 311, New York, NY 10001. This exhibition continues through May 24, 2014. An ARTIST TALK will be held Saturday May 10th 3-5pm which is free and open to the public.
For inquiries please contact Julie Ashcraft 914-573-4823 - julieannashcraft@yahoo.com
This exhibition explores the geostrategic and cultural diplomacy aspects of hip-hop by bringing together visual artworks and handwritten
verses by Iranian and Syrian youths, rising stars of the international
art world, and inspiring American, British and Canadian artists and poets. In the accompanying catalog essay, Julie Ashcraft
begins, "Chosen for authentic intensity, magnetic beauty and frank
content that aligns it with the innate spirit of hip-hop, the artworks
in this exhibition combine keen perception with resourceful
transcendence." Shahpour Pouyan combines night vision Iraq war video with Hudson River School painting aesthetics. Caitlin Cherry
ponders the future of security in her blockbuster painting featuring a
giant robot, police cars and lone humanoid figure practicing martial
arts. Tammam Azzam alludes to the soft power of music versus armed warfare in his limited edition print. Hedieh Javanshir Ilchi's
vivid paintings contrast Persian motifs with amorphous clouds of color
as free speech and information wars engage megaphones and satellite
dishes. Farid Farlek addresses appearances versus underlying reality in his assumption-busting digital collages. Elias Shalhoub illuminates the disruptive influence of hip hop upon the grand chessboard in his digital artwork. Francis A. Willey
creates an iconic photo of a blindfolded figure which may trigger
memories of hostages, detainment or consenting intimate encounters. Ehsan Ziya (Atour)'s
documentary photos and portraits present glimpses into the underground
world of conscious Hip Hop in Iran, and his recent digital artworks
grant entry into the abstract beauty of his heart and mind. Photographs Sadra Shahab took in von King Park, Brooklyn are a natural extension of his support for public assembly, public spaces and human rights. Humans of Tehran's photo of young female skateboarders in Tehran is a heartening reminder that we may have more in common than we realize. Kim Noble's painting explores personal identity from the unique perspective of a multiple. Siavash Talaei (Sis Tan)'s
montage of self portraits creates a circle of men seated under a night
sky in the desert who look towards the one whose face is illuminated by
the glow of a laptop computer. The catalog essay continues, "Official
lines of communication are sometimes superceded in influence by
grassroots Hip-hop culture. Revered verses in the Hip Hop canon inspire
youths in areas targeted by kinetic and economic warfare to contribute
their own incisive commentary reflecting the ways that foreign and
domestic policies and international cartels have impacted their personal
lives. The music videos from Iran, Syria and America (some of them
released at great personal risk) plus documentary photographs included
in this exhibition provide insight into the abilities of the artists to
recognize objective reality while at the same time making history and
charting a course for the future." Video directors include Elias Shalhoub, Farzan and Fred; cinematographers include Alireza Etemadi.
Handwritten Persian, Arabic and English rap verses on paper in this exhibition are contemporary poetic artworks. Rakim initiates
his foray into the artworld with a large painting he's creating based
on "Paid in Full." Verses in this exhibition reflect history. Rakim
mentions Ayatollah Khomeini; Immortal Technique references Zoraster,
Ahura Mazda, and U.S.-supplied WMD; Kinetics compares inept rappers to
hikers arrested inside the Iranian border; Sham MCs and Spiritual Mic record the shock of war in Syria, what it's doing to their society, why it's happening and people they've lost; Alonzo Brown (the original Mr. Hyde)
is the founding father of political rap with his 1980 verse on "Rappers
Convention" about the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran. An
immigrant child from a military family, 2013 National Student Poet Aline Dolinh adds her own perspective on revolution and beauty.
About the Curator: Julie Ashcraft (Jigsawnovich) is a New York based curator, writer, artist and musician who traveled Iran in 2009. Her articles, news and poems have been published by Rolling Stone Middle East, New Musical Express, New In Chess, Yahoo
Voices and Lungfull. She was the first female to make a rap record in
Europe. It's in the Cornell Hip Hop Collection. Her artworks have been
published in books Definition: The Art and Design of Hip Hop and Fresh:
Hip Hop Don't Stop; and in VOGUE and Decco magazines. She curated The Jim Jones Group Show at Alternate Gallery in Dallas, TX.
