Shirin Neshat Interviews Shahrnush Parsipur in Her Last Published Interview

On July 3, Shahrnush Parsipur, the renowned Iranian writer, died, leaving behind her final interview with artist Shirin Neshat. Her novel, 'Women Without Men,' which was translated by Faridoun Farrokh, has been longlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize. Originally published in 1989 and later banned in Iran, the narrative centers on five women seeking liberation in a magical garden during the 1953 coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. Neshat turned this story into a film in 2009, winning the Silver Lion for best director at the Venice Film Festival. In her interview, Parsipur discusses the book's roots, her views on magical realism, and her experiences living in Northern California, reliant on an oxygen machine. The conversation, translated by Sara Khalili and transcribed by Kayvan Tahmasebian Dehkordi, also reveals her reluctance to identify as a feminist. Neshat’s video trilogy 'Do U Dare!' is on display at Palazzo Marin in Venice until September 6.