1
rich
Libsyn
https://www.libsyn.com
90
600
124. Firouz FarmanFarmaian; Escaping Tehran, Kashmiri Houseboats, Trekking Kyrgyzstan, Rock Bands and Contemporary Art
Born in Tehran, the descendent of a nomadic tribe traced back to the 1400s, Contemporary Artist Firouz FarmanFarmaian's family scattered after the Islamic Revolution, from Paris to Marrakesh and a houseboat on a lily-covered lake in Kashmir. He grew up trekking mountains and deserts, touring with his Indie rock band and now with his internationally acclaimed art. With a gallery in Tarifa, Spain, and a new base in Athens, he travels the globe sourcing ideas and materials with craftswomen in remote regions and will be representing Kyrgyzstan at the Venice Biennale with the exhibition Gates of Turan.   www.gatesofturan.com www.firouzfarmanfarmaian.com @werthenomads   On this episode we explore:   His recent 5 week trek through Kyrgystan  Landlocked country not unlike Switzerland in look Separated by mountains from China Krysgystan's pristine nomadic tradition 'Interweaving' metaphorically, material and cultural ideas His pluralesque approach to artist interaction Being important to connect to archaic cultures and what they have to teach us  Soviet brutalist architecture in the Bishkek capital, frozen in time How losing his own country to the Islamic revolution made him a citizen of the world The Russians industrialising in the 19th century Working towards the Venice Biennale for 2022  Going on sourcing/production trips to remote areas Mostly working with craftswomen  His job as an artist being to highlight the 'virtual circle' of craft history The beauty of the mountains and yurts around the Issyk-Kul lake   'The village of 100 yurt makers'   Local craftswomen developing felt for Muji  Felt becoming the centre of Firouz's artwork  How craftmaking empowers women  His We R The Nomad agency  Preparing another show for the Istanbul Biennale  The government completely changing cabinet in the middle of his government journey  Growing up in Iran just before the revolution  Taking one of the last flights out of Tehran before the Ayatollah took over  Being sent to boarding school in Paris  Growing up with his father in Marrakesh His father growing up a hunter before becoming a trekker The family houseboat in Kashmir  Trekking the Himalayas with mules, eating with their hands and travelling as a nomad Killing a live mutton to feast on around the fire  His work stemming from this sense of displacement  Getting lost in the middle of the Sahara overnight  His father reading the stars and finding their way out  The ancient family tribe of Turkish descent going back to the 1400s and Mongol invasions  His father's radical approach to travelling (as a hippy in the 60s and a nomadic background)  Contrast being a key part of his life - privilege, nomadism, radicality creating richness in his art  His grandfather, a well known architect in Iran, narrowly escaping execution Touring in an indie rock band for many years Shooting experimental black and white movies in art school  Opening for Interpol for New York and the Notting Hill Arts Club  Wanting to always better himself Working with his wife Camilla and Balenciaga  Facing his fear of solitude The pandemic making them spread their wings with both art and travels  How Athens currently feels like Berlin after the wall of the wall Street art and cultural events everywhere  The Bob Dylan song that takes him back to sunset on the lily-covered lake in Kashmir 
The Big Travel Podcast
http://www.thebigtravelpodcast.com
<iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/21323150/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>
https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/21323150