Revisiting the ecology of art

In 2013, I posted a piece called "The Ecology of Art"  I first said:

Art and ecology both consider composition, energy flux, niche diversity, adaptations, interpretation, structure, interdependence, change, permeable boundaries of interdisciplinary applications and resource management.

I also established that, "Living organisms, interacting with their environment. . ." as the definition of 'ecology'."

Here's another piece that was stimulated by an article in Smithsonian Magazine entitled, "Speaking Volumes".  The subtitle is, "An Iranian Artist finds her voice in images."

All artists, I believe, strive to be seen, heard, recognized, and valued for what they present to their communities.  In some societies today, artists are experiencing the repression of expression through strict censorship.  In such an environment, artists must dig deep into their creative essence to find that "voice".  Ms Shirin Neshat,an Iranian born photographer and film maker has found a way to be "heard"  In the current oppresive environment of all women in Iran, other channels of creativity emerge, like the adaptation of a species changing to survive and flourish in an environment turned harsh.

The subtle, yet powerful metaphorical photo by Neshat, soon to be displayed in the Hirshhorn Museum, captures the oppression, and beautiful artistic rebellion.  The close up existential photo of a woman's hand held to her lips denoting the silence that is expected of her isolated experience in her hostile world.  Contrary, and in open rebellious metphor, her hand is inscripted with a passage from a poem by Forough Farrokhzad, a celebrated Iranian poet.  The passive gesture of silence with the 'in your face' poem on the hand, shows that art through metaphor will evolve in harsh environments.

The ecology of art runs deep.