In a relatively short span of time, since 1998, Shirin Neshat has created an impressive and complex body of work: ten films or video installations of great historic and artistic significance, including Rapture, which has been hailed as an example of a “masterpiece” of contemporary art by philosopher and critic Arthur Danto.

This book surveys each one of these audio/video installations while reflecting on the cultural context of her challenging and controversial artistic practice. It helps to explore the contextual framework in which Shirin Neshat’s work is articulated and debated, and the vision of this artist who has transcended the artist discourse to become a cultural phenomenon.