Valleys of the Simorgh – A transhistorical Quest for Equality and Democracy
Anita Hosseini (ed.)
Catalogue of the exhibition of the same name, June 27 – September 07,
2024 at hinterland, Vienna
The exhibition "Valleys of the Simorgh" arose from the INTRA project of the same
name and is based on the legacy of the "The Conference of the Birds" written by the Persian poet Attār in 1177. Following
the structure of the tale, the exhibition and accompanying catalogue are divided into seven valleys: Valley of the Quest (Ahmadjan
& Maren Amini), Valley of Love (Tanja Boukal), Valley of Knowledge (Monika Huber), Valley of Detachment (Ali & Maheen
Kazim), Valley of Unity (Anahita Razmi), Valley of Wonderment (Mohsin Shafi) and Valley of Poverty and Annihilation (Farkhondeh
Shahroudi). In these valleys, the political sphere of Attār's narrative becomes the subject of inspiration for contemporary
artists, while at the same time the artworks tell of the collective struggle for freedom and equality.
Anita
Hosseini, Department of Art History, Institute of Studies in Art and Art Education, University of Applied Arts Vienna
