© Klaartje Lambrechts – Shafagh

Description

The picture is part of my series SHAFAGH
S H A F A G H is the Persian word for twilight. To photographer Klaartje Lambrechts, it’s a clear metaphor for Iranian society, and a beautiful title for her series on dance and movement in Iran. For the creation of Shafagh, Klaartje Lambrechts traveled to Iran three times between 2015 and 2019. She discovered a country with harsh laws yet unlimited possibilities. Many of these possibilities are created in a gray zone, lacking clear boundaries. A twilight zone between what is allowed and what is possible; between what catches the eye and what remains hidden. Anything that refers to dance is extremely sensitive to the strict Islamic Iranian regime. Most forms of dancing are simply forbidden in public. Still, Klaartje met Iranians who are passionate about dance and movement. People who dance as a way to express themselves, some even professionally. Their activities take place largely indoors under the radar. Others seek to explore what the regime finds acceptable. Their stories are unspoken, but visible through subtle details. In the dancers’ motion, the photographer hears an echo of Pina Bausch’s legendary statement: “Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost.” In the fall of 2019, Klaartje was accompanied by two dancers from Teheran to the desert areas of Dasht-e Lut and Busher, in southern Iran. Escaping the stifling bustle of Tehran, the photographer sought the desolate emptiness of the awesome desert landscape where she made a conceptual series amongst sand dunes, rocks and salt flats. The bodies of the dancers disappear in the fabrics that capture them. They explore, struggle and stretch their space. Captured by the camera, their contours become sculptures in the vast desert landscape, solidified movement in which the dynamics and the tension are still contained. The series portrays a wonderful image of dance and movement in Iran, and a beautiful metaphor for contemporary Iranian society, in which the same kind of tension is constantly tangible. The fabrics limit the dancers. At the same time, they offer protection to the outside observer. Inside they can express themselves and explore boundaries.

EXHIBITIONS
2020
Solo exhibition Shafagh – Pedrami Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium
2017
Group exhibition Kunstenfestival Watou ‘ReWound’
2016
Solo show ‘Rewound’ Eyeloco, Antwerp, Belgium
Solo show ‘AETERNAE’, Milan, Italy
Group exhibition Fotofestival, Knokke, Belgium
2015
Solo show ‘The silence is here again tonight’ Artelli, Antwerp, Belgium
Group exhibition ‘Renaissance photography prize’ Getty Images Gallery ,
London , UK
2014
Group exhibition ‘Rewound’ Photo event, Mechelen, Belgium
Solo show ‘Hope’ Fedasil, Brussel,Belgium
2013
Solo show ‘Young Heroes’ Museumcafe UFO, Antwerp, Belgium
Traveling group exhibition ‘Photo View’, Belgium
Group Exhibition ‘Photo Academy award’ Fotomuseum Den Haag, The
Netherlands
Solo pop up exhibition ‘Historia, Hysteria’ Huis Happaert, Antwerp,
Belgium
2012
Group exhibition ‘Grand prix de la decouverte’ No Found Fair, Paris,
France
Solo show ‘Hospital Series’ Antwerp, Belgium
Group exhibition ‘ Kunstenfestival’ Watou, Belgium
Group exhibition ‘Sony world award’ London, UK
2011
Group exhibition ‘Weekend Knack Award’ Brussel, Belgium
HONORS/AWARDS
2015
Finalist ‘Renaissance Photography Prize’ London, UK
2014
Finalist ‘Kolga photo festival’ Georgia
2013
Finalist Photo academy award, Den Haag, The Netherlands
2012
Finalist Sony world award ‘ Arts & Culture’ , London, UK
Finalist ‘Art takes Miami’ US
Finalist ‘Grand prix de la decouverte’ Paris, France
2011
Winner Weekend Knack Award, Brussels, Belgium
Finalist Photo View, Kick off Fotofestival Knokke, Belgium