Nov 30, 2021
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.
@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