Through her sculptures, drawings and installations, Yosra Mojtahedi studies the relationship between the body and its environment, merging human and plant forms. In her creations, black also plays a dominant role in order to create a mysterious, more intimate space intended to awaken the senses. Within this approach, her installation Lilith stands out as a sensory and poetic exploration of female emancipation.
The title of the work refers to the biblical figure of Lilith, Adam’s first wife, who was punished for refusing to submit to male authority. The artist reinterprets the myth by turning Lilith into an icon of feminism, a symbol of liberty and independence. The sculptural installation presents a fountain in a closed loop, in which a white fluid circulates to evoke bodily fluids and mother’s milk. Composed using materials like ceramic, blown glass and latex, the work takes the form of a living creature, a “fountain-body” accompanied by a large drawing in the background.
The immersive experience is accentuated by a multisensory approach. A sound composition is integrated into the work, in which we hear the voice of the artist’s aunt whispering a poem by Forugh Farrokhzad, an Iranian militant known for her struggle in support of sensual love and the liberation of women’s bodies. The sense of smell is also involved through a subtle fragrance of rose that envelops the viewer, creating a direct link with this invisible presence.