Dorsa Asadi's 'Strange Fruit' Reimagines Divine Justice at Green Art Gallery

Dorsa Asadi's exhibition 'Strange Fruit' is currently on display at Green Art Gallery in Dubai, running until 29 July. This showcase includes 22 ceramic pieces featuring twin sisters Elle and Belle, characters created by Asadi in 2019. The exhibition's narrative mirrors Dante's 'Divine Comedy,' divided into Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. Elle and Belle serve as agents of justice, punishing faceless men. The inspiration for the exhibition arose from the civil unrest in Iran following Mahsa Amini's death and the assault of a young girl in autumn 2022. Titles draw from protest songs, including Billie Holiday's 'Strange Fruit' and Nina Simone's 'I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free,' which Asadi credits with aiding her during that tumultuous time. Themes of patriarchal oppression, divine justice, and redemption are explored, with the sisters purifying 'sinnermen' in Purgatorio and transforming male figures into botanical entities in Paradiso. Asadi, who was born and resides in Iran, reflects on the parallels between Dante's exile and her own experiences under state control.