#lilian nejatpour

[decca]

Lilian Nejatpour’s Choreophobia rehearsal

[6pillars]

This week: British Iranian artist Lilian Nejatpour discusses her piece, Choreophobia. Nejatpour’s practice questions technological invasiveness and sentimentality. Choreophobia examines the intervening occurrence of colonialism and Western thought on Middle Eastern dance, with its interference on the censoring and transformation of gender and sensuality in male bodies. Choreophobia is at Chisenhale Studios in August as a work in progress, presented by curating collective To Whom This May Concern, and then at Somerset House, London in September.

Bio: Lilian is a British Iranian artist whose practice questions how technological invasiveness and sentimentality, two very distinct modes, operate alongside each other and what problems arise when they are captured and re-situated in conversation through sculpture and video. 

Recent shows include: ‘Hope Machine’ at Cairotronica Festival, Cairo, Egypt (2018) and ‘Choreophobia II’, at Turner Contemporary (2018).  She is currently an artist in residence at Somerset House Studios, London.

Choreophobia

Choreophobia looks at the intervening occurrence of colonialism and Western thought on Middle Eastern dance, with its interference on the censoring and transformation of gender and sensuality in male bodies. Influenced by Anthony Shay’s theory of Choreophobia. Nejatpour expands on Shay’s concept by placing her own dual nationality and geographical displacement into choreographed symbolic cyphers that will see bodies acting as sculptures in flux, retracing the varied forms of dance culture in cultural relocation. 

This presentation of Choreophobia is a work in progress presented by curating collective To Whom This May Concern. Nejatpour will be realising the final iteration at Somerset House in late September.

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This Week’s Six Pillars – Choreophobia This week: British Iranian artist Lilian Nejatpour discusses her piece, Choreophobia. Nejatpour's practice questions technological invasiveness and sentimentality.

[chiarabrainwash]

Choreophobia by Lilian Nejatpour, Somerset House

[boldtendencies]

A documentation of the temporary works through a seagull by Ellen Lloyd

I often come to this high up space. I am able to see more of what’s around me. Down on the ground the floor walkers reach up taller than I and I fear entrapment by bigger beings. However, where this space was always deserted through the colder and darker times, there have now sprung weird...things. Not quite trees, nor much like the other tall perches already on this high place. However, this is my dominion and I shall make these things my resting places!

no more quick, quick, slow – RENE MATIĆ, 2020

What is this perch? I thought it would be ideal as it reaches high into the sky – much like the tall dead trees which become small suns at night – however, I have encountered a number of issues. The length, albeit not the longest reach, allows for fellow gulls to attempt to perch. This I will not have. How am I expected to defend my place when I may be so easily accompanied? Moreover, the strange and useless wing, flapping futilely, making a loud and unnecessary ruckus is a terrible disturbance to one trying to perch peacefully. I shan’t be resting here again. 

Embrace – LUCY GREGORY, 2020

No. It moves, the limbs are too thin and hurt my feet. The limbs reach outward in a position that looks ominously like a floor walker and I shan’t be tricked by one of them again, no I won’t!

Vajra – SOL BAILEY-BARKER, 2020

It seems like some kind of beast. I shall not perch until I have been given solid proof that it will not try to eat me. Others may take the risk in the hopes of obtaining the ideal perch. Myself, however, wishes to survive. 

Hoist – LILIAN NEJATPOUR, 2020

Now this thing presents the opposite issue to the strange long and thin tree, in that there is almost no space atop it for even myself to perch alone. Moreover, I am weary of the smoothness of the branch. I wish not to be made a fool by sliding down the trunk of this strange thing. I am a proud gull, and will not stoop to those levels of desperation for a perch. 

The Throne Of The Third Heaven Of The Nations’ Millennium General Assembly and Once in a Lifetime – NATHANIEL FAULKNER, 2018, 2020

This odd pairing presents itself with a few flaws. The smaller of the two things does not have an appropriate surface for me to perch atop it, and I do not wish to have to be encumbered by this odd branch every time I seek to turn around. The other taller thing – I have yet to work out whether it be a tree, it certainly has a similar feel to one, yet the shape truly baffles me – is tall, yes, but shakes rather viciously in the wind

A New Dawn MMXX – JEREMY DELLER, 2020

Looks like an odd view of the distance, yet up close it appears to be a barrier. Now, I am glad I have some sense about me and observed this from a distance, and did not attempt to fly directly towards it as if flying away from this high place. This would indeed have led not only to potentially severe injury, but also would have caused high levels of embarrassment and shame for us gulls. It is the other birds which are known to have a lack of perception, unable to process the strange world of the floor walkers, not us gulls. 

Bod(y)ies That Weather and Damp Atmosphere – DAVINIA-ANN ROBINSON, 2020

Too low. You think I want to perch below the gaze of the floor walkers? Not I. The rustling of its floor disturbs me. It sounds like a serpent, and I cannot be at ease when sounds such as these are near. It makes the noises of a floor walker, yet I can’t always see one near it. I mistrust it. 

Amber Chamber – RAFAŁ ZAJKO, 2020

With this bright thing, I have little to note. Its height reaches high enough, it is stable, and there is enough room to fit myself comfortably without the threat of competition. While the smoothness of this thing provides little grip, this is only an issue when the winds beat down hard upon this high place. It is neither my most, nor my least favourite perch. 

Take What You Can, Give Nothing Back – JACK EVANS, 2020

And now, my favourite and most prized perch. The height, the texture, the variety of uses! Heavens above I have found my home away from home! For I can perch upon the top of its structure, fearing not the eager eyes of others, I can move around its peak fending off their jealous claws. Yet this is not all, oh no. For there is an almost constant supply of water, so that I can sup and wash myself if I so please – although I wish not the other gulls see me doing so. I must surmise that these odd floor walkers have created this form for this purpose specifically, as I can see no reason for its so particular a use other than for my benefit. I am so glad that this high up space has been blessed with the most immaculate perch. I am sure it will stay here for the foreseeable future. I am sure of it.