SUMMARY
Artist Shirin Neshat was commissioned to photograph Malala Yousafzai, facing the challenge of capturing an already iconic figure. Neshat chose to combine photography with calligraphy, inscribing a Pashtu poem honoring Yousafzai directly onto selected prints. This technique, using Farsi script with exaggerated accents, added a visual layer that conveyed political and cultural context, moving beyond a traditional photograph. The resulting portraits are now part of an immersive exhibition in London.
TAKEAWAYS
Shirin Neshat photographed Malala Yousafzai for the National Portrait Gallery.
Neshat inscribed Pashtu poetry onto the photographic prints using calligraphy.
The calligraphy adds a layer of context and aesthetic depth to the portraits.
The portraits are featured in an immersive exhibition at FRAMELESS London.