In the Studio: Nazanin Moradi

The Documentary Podcast

BBC

Society & Culture, Documentary, Personal Journals

4.3 • 2.6K Ratings

🗓️ 17 June 2024

⏱️ 26 minutes

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Summary

For artist Nazanin Moradi, who was brought up in Iran where women are “second-class citizens in every sense,” reversing the “unfair” gender roles is paramount. In her new project, the multidisciplinary artist challenges male domination and toxic masculinity, within a fragmented historical context where fantasy meets rebellion. She does this by changing the narrative of ancient Mesopotamian mythology, fixating on the legendary battle where the supremely powerful dragon goddess of oceans Tiamat, was killed by the storm god Marduk. Sahar Zand spends time with Nazanin as she embarks on the ambitious project.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm hoping to create a new story out of the old story. I'm hoping to bring a new mythology to this 21st century time. I think we need it.
0:22.0	We need fantasy because the reality is disturbing. Welcome to the documentary in the studio from the BBC World Service, the program that follows the creative process of artists from around the world. I'm Saharzan and in 2022 I followed
0:46.3	British Iranian artist Nazanin Moradi. Her multimedia work defined by
0:51.6	constant construction, deconstruction and reconstruction has been exhibited
0:56.4	nationally and internationally.
0:59.1	Nausanin uses her artwork to question gender role in historical and popular culture.
1:05.0	Working with her own body, she plays with political and erotic language to present provocative
1:10.6	and often uncomfortable self-portraits, addressing the entrenchment of patriarchal
1:15.9	norms and misogyny.
1:17.7	I think because I grow up with it.
1:19.9	I saw it in my family, I saw it in my culture, I saw it in my culture I said in my relationships it's early March 2022 and over the
1:31.2	next few months I'll be following Nazausani's process as she embarks on an ambitious project
1:36.7	Today, I've come to her house in Chelsea, West London to hear about her concept
1:41.7	It's related to ancient cosmic story,
1:46.0	Mesopotamian mythology.
1:49.0	The story begins with two primary deities, Thiamomet and Abzu. So they're mingling together and
1:58.0	Tiamets give birth to a new generation of gods. New gods they were very noisy and destructive.
2:05.6	Abzu thinks that they're planning to kill him. Actually he was right at the end he was killed by them.
2:14.0	Tiamet got angry and she declared war so she changed her form to Dragon. She creates an army of monsters and dragon and at the end Marduk the Storm God kills her
2:41.0	What I'm trying to do, I'm trying to kill the Marduk and give a life to Tiamet. So in your version you're actually changing the ending of this centuries
2:46.7	old mythology? Exactly. And then maybe we wouldn't end up having a patriarchal society.
2:55.0	Nausainin is a multidisciplinary artist
	...

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