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Strange Fruit
In Dorsa Asadi’s Strange Fruit, each part of its narrative maps to a part of his epic allegorical poem the Divine Comedy, which served as a vision for what would become the modern Italian language. Fittingly, for a time in which Gen Z are increasingly the drivers of society, the main protagonists of these small ceramic works are the twins Elle and Belle, who have recurred in Asadi’s work for a number of years, like characters coming in and out of a party. Growing up in Iran, the artist was told that paradise is the reward for a life of gendered obedience. But the works here suggest that perhaps there might be other routes, and possibly even other languages too.
This is a narrative of generational rebellion against the forces of patriarchy and capitalism—aided by religion—that work in tandem to control women’s bodies just as they control nature, terraforming its wild abundance into sites of ordered, joyless reproduction: farms, fields, baby-making factories. Put another way, when people domesticated wheat, they also domesticated women. Asadi traces this entwined domination of women and land in the development of regional civilizations through the Mesopotamian goddess Ishtar, whose sexuality becomes taboo in the epic of Gilgamesh. But contra the linearity of patriarchal history, her Paradiso is both prologue and sequel. Humans mutate together with plants, putting down roots and supporting each other. Nobody is expelled from this particular Garden of Eden but rather coexist with fantastical pastelled abandon, free from taboo and societal mores.
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
Installation view
A sinner’s flesh should have an Immersion baptism,” Belle said, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 7 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 50 x 60 x 28 cm
A sinner’s flesh should have an Immersion baptism,” Belle said, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 7 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 50 x 60 x 28 cm
Claimant or frightened, will burn together baby, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 4 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 26 x 37 x 33 cm
Nargis (Narcissus) drags the Sinnerman into the inferno, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 3 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 42 x 25 x 37 cm
When are you taking your foot off our back, 2022 Ceramics 32 x 15 x 15 cm
The smell of burning flesh, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 5 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 46 x 39 x 23 cm
Belle offering a handful of fire to the Sugarman, 2022, ceramic, 21.13.23 cm
Elle leading the Sinnerman through the Inferno, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 2 pieces, Approx Installation dimension_ 46 x 26 x 25 cm
Sinnerman, you oughta be prayin’, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 3 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 42 x 25 x 37 cm
This is what revenge looks like, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 3 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 41 x 29 x 22 cm
From the inferno, 2022, ceramics, 30.16.10 cm
From the inferno, 2022, ceramics, 44.28.24 cm
Bending Sinnerman offering his burning flesh to Elle and Belle, 2022, Ceramics, Composed of 4 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 44 x 40 x 30 cm
Remission of the Sinnermen, 2022, Ceramics, 35 x 35 x 16, cm
Fructifying Chenar (plane tree) with the strange fruit at the wrong time of Autumn, 2023, Ceramics, 40 x 16 x 17 cm
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free, 2023, Ceramics, 19 x 20 x 27 cm
Messing around, 2023, Ceramics, 18 x 27 x 30 cm
Elle and Belle purify the Sinnermen with their blood and tears, 2023, Ceramics, Composed of 5 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 60 x 60 x 30 cm
Daddy, come on, save my soul, 2023, Ceramics, 11 x 21 x 36 cm
Sprouting of martyrs, 2023, Ceramics, 18 x 19 x 28 cm
Nargis (narcissus) stares at the blooming Sugarman while passing heaven’s door, 2023, Ceramics, Composed of two pieces, Approx. Installation dimensions_ 44 x 35 x 34 cm
The Ascension of the Sugarman, 2023, Ceramics, 32 x 20 x 32 cm
The resurrection of Elle and Belle, 2023, Ceramics, Composed of 2 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 16 x 37 x 34 cm
Blooming seeds of joy, 2023, Ceramics, Composed of 4 pieces, Approx. Installation dimension_ 12 x 37 x 53 cm
Blooming and resting Sugarmen, 2023, Ceramics, 34 x 27 x 32 cm
Ecstasy of the Sugarmen, 2023, Ceramics, 30 x 23 x 26 cm
The heavenly fruit, 2023, Ceramics, 37 x 22 x 22 cm
Take me to the river, 2023, Ceramics, 22 x 18 x 40 cm
Heavenly gathering, 2023, Ceramics, 36 x 28 x 34 cm
Well-rooted plane tree, 2023, Ceramics, 42 x 19 x 25 cm
Elle and Belle bathing in the pools of Paradiso (detail), 2023
Elle and Belle bathing in the pools of Paradiso (detail), 2023
Meet me on the playground, 2023, Ceramics, 35 x 39 x 35 cm
Meet me on the playground, 2023, Ceramics, 35 x 39 x 35 cm
Dip me in the water, 2023, Ceramics, 21 x 38 x 38 cm
The hand of she, 2023, Ceramics, 39 x 20 x 32 cm
The red rose on her own feet, 2022, Ceramics, 20 x 22 x 15 cm