☰
About Magazine Places Projects
Skip to content

Shirin Neshat’s Rapture – Veiled women in traditional Islamic attire

Last updated: April 16, 2025
Performances, Photography
Activist art, Art & deserts, Art in Iran, Artworks & exhibitions by Asian artists, Artworks & exhibitions in Asia, Black & White art, Groundbreaking art, Light & shadow in art, Muslim-related art, Religion in art, Shirin Neshat's most interesting photography, video
3 min read
Shirin Neshat - Rapture, 1999, Gelatin silver print, 108x171.5cm
1 Shirin Neshat – Rapture, 1999
    • 1.Introduction
    • 2.What happens in Rapture?
    • 3.Video excerpt of Rapture
    • 4.Why was this film made?
    • 5.Women & Islam
    • 6.About Shirin Neshat

Introduction

Rapture is a projection of black and white video where Iranian 1 artist Shirin Neshat 2 gives a narrative that concerns the differences between Muslim women and men.

Neshat has used the video projection to explore the cultural and social role of women in the Islamic World and shot the work in Morocco with a cast that included hundreds of participants.

Shirin Neshat - Rapture, 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
2 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5
Shirin Neshat - Rapture, 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
3 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5

What happens in Rapture?

The 13min film is set against a very emotive soundtrack with two groups of people showing side by side. The first group includes identically dressed men who are at a fortress performing mundane activities and elaborate rituals.

The other group shows veiled women in their traditional Islamic attire crossing a desert 3 and acting in movements and gestures that are not tightly prescribed.

Shirin Neshat - Rapture (still), 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
4 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5

One of the features of the highly acclaimed 13-minute video installation is the ability to bring the body expressions of the veiled women despite being covered all over the body. The video also shows a mix of meditative scenes, elegiac scenes, and continuous loops.

At one point, the men roll out their prayer rugs, but they quarrel. On the other hand, as the men navigate a stone building, the women seem to be crying out. However, it is not clear if they are crying out of anger or celebration.

Shirin Neshat - Rapture (still), 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
5 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5

Video excerpt of Rapture

YouTube video
4 min 50 sec

Why was this film made?

Neshat brings about ready associations with the gendered spaces and also brings about contrasts. In the case of men, they are entrenched firmly in the authority and tradition of Islam. Women, on the other hand, are protected by Islam but also imprisoned by the chadors or the traditional black veils.

Shirin Neshat - Rapture (still), 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
6 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5
Shirin Neshat - Rapture (still), 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
7 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5

Women & Islam

As you further watch the video, you will find a number of implications of Islam across the set. For example, when a group of six women boards a rowboat and sets to cross the sea, the artist does not let us know what awaits them on the other end. It could be freedom, martyrdom, or redemption.

This ending is also seen as a testament to the bravery and adventurousness of the women. As the men stay within their set boundaries, women are brave enough to look for better things beyond their current limitations.

Shirin Neshat - Rapture (still), 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
8 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5
Shirin Neshat - Rapture (still), 1999 two-channel video:audio installation, 16mm film transferred to video
9 Shirin Neshat – Rapture (still), 1999, two-channel video installation, black-and-white, sound, 16mm film transferred to video, edition of 5

About Shirin Neshat

Neshat was brought up in Iran but later moved to the United States. Her experiences in both places have shaped most of her work. She says her work does not have any opinions.

She puts herself in the position of asking questions but does not give the answers. The ‘No Position’ enables her to put her audience to critical thinking on the best way to deal with the problems she exposes.

Shirin Neshat - Untitled from Rapture, 1999, unique gelatin silver print, 34.9 x 56.8cm
10 Shirin Neshat – Untitled from Rapture, 1999
Shirin Neshat - Untitled from Rapture, 1999, gelatin silver print, 75x182cm
11 Shirin Neshat – Untitled from Rapture, 1999
Shirin Neshat - Untitled from Rapture, 1999, chromogenic print, 40.64 x 50.8cm
12 Shirin Neshat – Untitled from Rapture, 1999

 

All images by Shirin Neshat unless otherwise noted.
More by Shirin Neshat

Citation

Footnotes

1. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/iran/
2. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/shirin-neshat/
3. https://publicdelivery.org/tag/desert/
1. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-1999-Gelatin-silver-print-108×171.5cm.jpg ↩
2. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video.jpg ↩
3. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video.jpeg ↩
4. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-still-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video-6.jpg ↩
5. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-still-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video-5.jpg ↩
6. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-still-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video-4.jpg ↩
7. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-still-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video-3.jpg ↩
8. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-still-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video-2.jpg ↩
9. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Rapture-still-1999-two-channel-videoaudio-installation-16mm-film-transferred-to-video-1.jpg ↩
10. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Untitled-from-Rapture-1999-unique-gelatin-silver-print-34.9-x-56.8cm.jpg ↩
11. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Untitled-from-Rapture-1999-gelatin-silver-print-75x182cm.jpg ↩
12. https://publicdelivery.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Shirin-Neshat-Untitled-from-Rapture-1999-chromogenic-print-40.64-x-50.8cm.jpg ↩
← Previous Post
Next Post →

Public Delivery Logo

Most visited arts non-profit online. Established in 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. Projects in over 100 countries.

Stay in touch

Discover more

  • Shirin Neshat – Speechless, from the series Women of Allah, 1996.
    Shirin Neshat & her iconic Speechless photo
  • Shirin-Neshat-Turbulent-1998-black-and-white-video-installation-2
    Shirin Neshat's Turbulent forces you to take a side
  • Shirin-Neshat-–-Bahram-Villains-2012-from-Book-of-Kings
    Shirin Neshat's Book of Kings captures the faces of the Arab Spring riots
  • Yang Fudong – The Coloured Sky – New Women II, 6, 2014
    Yang Fudong's Coloured Sky - Dream & nightmare of the idealized woman
  • Abbas-Kowsari-Police-Women-Academy-2006-2
    Abbas Kowsari's surprising photos of veiled female police squad in Iran
  • Christian Marclay – Telephones, 1995
    What is the meaning of Christian Marclay’s Telephones?
× ‹ Expanded image view ›
No cookies. No tracking. Your visit is 100% private.
Instagram | Telegram