Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Effat Sadat Afzal Tousi ¹
• Mahdis Mohajeri ²

¹ Associate Professor, Art Research Department, Faculty of Art, Al-Zahra University, Tehran

² PhD Candidate in Comparative and Analytical Art Studies, Faculty of Arts, Al-Zahra University, Tehran

Abstract

Migration is now described not only as a geographical phenomenon but also as a cultural one, encompassing issues such as identity, language, alienation, nostalgia and roaming. These experiences can affect the process of creating a work of art. The art of migrants is known worldwide due to its representation of important themes and issues. In this context, migrant artists from Islamic countries have been able to show their artwork in many aspects. One aspect of culture that develops during migration is language, followed by calligraphy. Calligraphy is an important part of the artworks created by artists from Islamic countries. In fact, its importance to language has made different functions. Among immigrant artists, female artists have also chosen calligraphy as an important element of their work. The main question of this paper is what the reason is for the use of calligraphy by migrant women artists. When looking at the artworks, it becomes clear that female artists from Islamic countries use calligraphy to represent their identity and otherness. Mikhail Bakhtin is one of the most important philosophers of the 20^th century. One of his theories includes otherness. He believes that man always needs another man. In other words, man sees himself in the eyes of the other. This research, using the descriptive method of analysis and library sources, considers Bakhtin’s viewpoint when analyzing works of art. Among many works by female artists with migrant backgrounds from Islamic countries including Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, and Algeria, three artworks by Moroccan, Iranian, and Iraqi women artists were selected to be specifically studied. The selected artists are Lala Esayyadi, Shirin Neshat, Havy Kahraman. These artists create their artworks in the position of otherness and they also want to highlight their identity with their otherness.

Keywords

• Migration
• Calligraphy
• Women Artists
• Islamic Countries
• Mikhail Bakhtin