Shiva Ahmadi: Courage of Eve @ Gallery Rosenfeld

Shiva Ahmadi creates a dazzling world of juxtapositions in her first UK solo exhibition at Gallery Rosenfeld, London. Her show, Courage of Eve, confronts the viewer with the struggles and violence that women face not only in Iran but also all over the world. Working in California’s Bay Area, Ahmadi uses her experience growing up in a post-Cultural Revolution Iran to inspire her pieces.

Throughout the gallery’s three rooms, viewers are lured in by the outward beauty of her works and invited to investigate the details more closely. Upon this further inspection, the terrors of war and the disfigurement of female bodies are revealed. In her contrasting representations of destruction and growth, and beauty and decay, the viewer is left to grapple with the violence skilfully concealed by her striking artistic style. 

Shiva Ahmadi, Eve’s Promise, 2022. Watercolour and Screen Print on Paper. 152 x 203 cm. Source: Gallery Rosenfeld. 

Ahmadi’s biblical reference to Eve as the original female sinner in her exhibition title draws the viewer’s mind towards the most primaeval garden space – Eden – a place of tranquillity and natural splendour. Indeed, she utilises the reoccurring image of an overgrown garden throughout the works displayed in the space. In Eve’s Promise (2022), a monumental watercolour on paper, a female figure hovers above a grassy landscape. Below her, vibrant sunbursts of colour emerge from the grass like a densely packed field of flowers. As much as these blooms resemble flowers, however, there is a disconcerting resemblance to drops of blood. This blood could refer to physical wounds inflicted on the female body or the punishment of menstruation delivered to Eve by God in the Bible. In either sense, the red of the blood in Ahmadi’s paintings provides a visceral representation of physical pain. 

Shiva Ahmadi, Eve’s Promise, detail. Source: Gallery Rosenfeld.

Adding to its unnerving nature is a spotted leopard perched on a branch, poised to leap into the grassy terrain below. From a distance, it is unclear what the target of the leopard is; however, upon further examination, a group of small children can be seen playing in front of a demolished building. Here, children disappear into the background. Though once acknowledged, they instil nervousness in the viewer as they play in the wake of destruction and the shadow of the leopard. Owing to her interest in Persian miniatures, Ahmadi expertly nestles these details into the background of her pieces, making them more dynamic than one would have first thought. Eve’s Promise wonderfully marries the contradictions of beauty and destruction. The fantastic foliage triumphs over the destruction hidden behind, or perhaps the violence is an insidious presence veiled by virtue of the natural world.  

Shiva Ahmadi, Woven, 2022. Watercolour on Paper. 38 x 50 cm. Source: Gallery Rosenfeld. 

On the lower floor of the gallery, smaller works are displayed which focus specifically on the female form. Despite the change in subject, these works continue to reference the same themes of beauty, growth, and destruction.  

In Woven (2022), the viewer encounters a female figure whose body is beautifully rendered in deep maroons and browns. Her truncated legs meld seamlessly into the grasses below and, although easily overlooked, are entirely intentional. In fact, every woman is missing limbs and this is a decision that speaks to the violence women have faced in the current situation in Iran. The injuries inflicted on the subject are well hidden by the rich and vibrant colour palette, only seen through a dedicated gaze.

In a similar fashion to Eve’s Promise, the foliage extends upwards and emits violent bursts of colour that are both beautiful and incredibly painful. The woman’s head is thrown back, and her hair flows into the foliage below as the female body becomes almost indistinguishable from nature. Her hair also climbs above her, weaving itself into the mouth of a serpentine creature. Again, referencing the Bible origin story, this serpent is undoubtedly a harmful presence. The woman is intimately connected to nature and the creature above, blurring the line between beauty and danger. Woven is an incredibly emotional piece which focuses on the effect of the world on a woman’s body.  

Shiva Ahmadi, Oil Barrel, 2011. Mixed Media. 73 x 53 x 53 cm. Source: Author. 

Ahmadi’s 2011 oil barrel sculpture is a fascinating counterpoint to her paintings. In these works, the artist has decorated an oil barrel with vibrant gold paint and sparkling crystals. Intertwined vines connect the crystals, again referring to Ahmadi’s familiarity with and interest in Persian miniatures. However, these nests of vines and crystals are interrupted by the occasionally painted punctures. Out of these punctures leaks a combination of black and red paint, making the difference between blood and oil almost indistinguishable. The barrel drains its contents while also bleeding the joint destruction that resource wars have caused.

On the central band of the barrel, the artist has painted various scenes, including a nude woman riding a headless horse, a serpent breathing fire, and an amorphous bleeding mass. All these scenes reinforce the themes of violence visible throughout her work. With this barrel, the artist creates a modern statement on the politics of natural resources through historically significant cultural styles. Ahmadi’s designs on the barrel are a stunning display of her artistic talent, reaffirming the statement on destruction hiding beneath beautiful exteriors.  

Although this piece does not directly speak to violence against the rest of the exhibition, it still parallels the idea of masking destruction with beauty. Or, in this case, with a highly desirable commodity.  

Overall, Courage of Eve proves to be a gripping solo show by Ahmadi. The pieces engage with current events gripping the world and confront the viewer head-on with the realities that so many women face. Her works engage the viewer in a dynamic experience and encourage them to consider the global socio-political system and what evils may be lurking underneath the guise of beauty. 

Shiva Ahmadi: Courage of Eve is on view at Gallery Rosenfeld until 1 April, 2023.

Maria Whitby

Contributing Writer, MADE IN BED