Shirana Shahbazi / Iran/Switzerland b.1974 / [Voegel-08-2009] (from ‘Flowers, fruits & portraits’ series) 2009 / Type C photograph on aluminium, ed. 3/5 (1 AP) / Purchased 2010 with funds from Tim Fairfax, AM, through the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation / Collection: QAGOMA / © Shirana Shahbazi

Shirana SHAHBAZI
[Voegel-08-2009] from ‘Flowers, fruits & portraits’ series 2009

Not Currently on Display

Shirana Shahbazi uses iconographic and compositional elements of seventeenth-century European still-life painting, where the fleeting beauty of a blooming flower acts as a reminder that life is short. Yet, her glorious fruits, flowers and birds also reference tazhib a tashiri, miniatures from the Persian Kajar dynasty (1794–1925) containing Chinese influences.

While recalling painterly traditions from both regions, these photographs also refer to the stock pictures of advertising brochures.

Shirana Shahbazi emigrated from Iran to Germany as an 11-year-old, and now lives in Zurich, Switzerland. In her photographic reinterpretations of the still-life tradition, Shahbazi traverses geography, history and media to explore questions of cultural translation.

Discussion Questions

1. Compare this work to examples of seventeenth-century European still-life painting that feature birds. What elements had Shahbazi borrowed from this style of art?

2. How has contemporary visual culture and technology impacted on Shahbazi’s practice?

Classroom Activities

Explore the multidimensionality of imagery through collage. Cut out imagery from magazines about wildlife, interior design and cuisine. Paste imagery on top of fields of colour. Experiment with combinations to re-contextualise the symbolic nature of the images you collect.