The tale of countless women,
Honor killed for daring to love beyond the confines of class,
Defying the masters of body and soul.
An ancient struggle that echoes through the ages,
Where benighted ignorance and the light of wisdom wage their eternal war.
SARAI Gallery is thrilled to announce Rabia, the inaugural exhibition of the Arzhang Projects, curated by the esteemed Farah Ossouli.
The Arzhang projects presents curated exhibitions of works by artists inspired by the visual language of traditional Iranian painting. Its objective is to highlight the deep connections between contemporary art in Iran and its rich artistic heritage.
Rabia highlights the talents of Farah Ossouli (1953), Delaram Faghani (1978), Abbas Shahsavar (1983), Maryam Ayeen (1985), Shila Piran (1991), Aynaz Najafi (1992), and Homa Fakhrodin (1995). Rabia will be on view from October 25 to November 8 at SARAI-Mahshahr.
This exhibition tells the story of Rabia, a woman whose tale mirrors those of countless others. In this story, women are condemned to death for the 'crime' of loving a forbidden beloved. The artworks in this exhibition give voice to Rabia's narrative, while the only male artist in the show depicts the story of Baktash, her lover. Notably, Rabia hails from the same region where these works will be displayed.
Rabia, the daughter of Ka'b Qozdari, the governor of Balkh, was a woman of remarkable talents. She secretly fell in love with Baktash, a trusted companion of her brother, Harith. Their relationship flourished through the exchange of letters and poetry. During a fierce battle in which Baktash was severely wounded, Rabia, disguised as a man, entered the battlefield and rescued Baktash. On her way back, she encountered Rudaki, the renowned poet, who recognized her poetic gifts. Impressed by her verses, Rudaki recited one of Rabia's poems at the Samanian court, earning widespread admiration. However, this gesture also revealed Rabia's secret love for Baktash.
Upon learning this, Harith hurried back to Balkh, where he discovered a box of Rabia's poems about Baktash. Convinced of an illicit relationship, Harith imprisoned Baktash and condemned Rabia to a brutal punishment. He ordered her wrists to be cut in a bathhouse, leaving her to bleed to death. The next day, Rabia's lifeless body was found, with her final verses written in blood on the walls of the bathhouse. Baktash eventually escaped from prison, driven by a desire for vengeance. He confronted and killed Harith before ending his own life beside Rabia's grave.
Their tragic love story remains a poignant and timeless narrative in Persian literature, capturing themes of prejudice and the harsh repercussions of rigid societal norms. Even after thousands of years, we still witness tragic circumstances branded as prejudice in various societies. The invisible chains that bind women appear to echo the patterns of history, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality.