artist niki afsar shows their current work in progress, "a shrine for us," an installation involving suspended mirror shard "curtains" that mimic the mirrored shrines and aristocratic architecture of Iran (the artist's heritage country.) a queer iranian-american of Tehran-born parents, afsar has remained captivated by the ecstatic visual metaphor of one's fractured reflection, nestled within the dogmatic, hierarchical markers of status and sacredness in Iranian culture. working exclusively with shattered and discarded mirrors, afsar insists that the queer body is sacred--despite the violence that dogma has inflicted upon us--and that our existence persists as a result of our ecstatic commitments to love and freedom. commitments made only sharper and stronger by power's attempts to destroy and discard us.

the performance on thursday, january 29 at 7:30 pm will run 30 minutes and will involve the artist's body in conversation with the mirrors. the artist will invite viewers to experience themselves in the mirrors.

the artist discussion on monday, february 2 at 6:00 pm will be a talk facilitated by Fargo Tbakhi in which participants will be asked to share thoughts and feedback, and to be in conversation directly with the artist.