Newsha Tavakolian | "For the Sake of Calmness": Art Basel Hong Kong 2024, Film Program "Where to Go?"

Dastan is pleased to announce its participation at Art Basel Hong Kong 2024, where it will feature a screening of For the Sake of Calmness (2020), a short film by Iranian photographer and video artist Newsha Tavakolian (b. 1981) at the fair’s Film Program, “Where to Go?”. The screening will be open to the public with limited seating on March 30, 2024, at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre auditorium. The program is only available to people aged 18 and above.

For the Sake of Calmness (2020, 19’07”) is a video written and directed by Newsha Tavakolian. In the video, inspired by an inwards exploration of the experience of PMS, Tavakolian explores how the phenomenon provides the artist with a specific lens for viewing and experiencing reality. It is narrated as an inner monologue that opens into several scenes and characters, each representing the physicality of the experience: heightened image definition and saturation, loud volume, characters, flowers, and even the ground covered in sweat, tears, or water. For the Sake of Calmness has been previously presented and screened at Pejman Foundation: Argo Factory (2021, Tehran), and Thomas Erban Gallery (2021, New York). The film has also been nominated for the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Ammodo Tiger Short Competition (Rotterdam, 2021).

For the Sake of Calmness is produced, directed, and narrated by Newsha Tavakolian, with cinematography by Peyman Shadmanfar, a score by Kamran Arashnia, and edited by Pooya Parsamagham. 

Newsha Tavakolian (b. 1981, Tehran, Iran), a Magnum Photos member, is an Iranian photographer, visual artist, and educator known for her work that captures the human condition. Tavakolian began her career in photography at a young age, eventually becoming a prominent figure in the field. Her photography is characterized by its evocative storytelling and her keen eye for capturing the delicate emotions that shape us as humans. She has covered a wide range of topics, from the challenges faced by women in Iran and worldwide to the aftermath of tensions in conflict zones. Her work often combines artistry with documentary, blurring the lines between reality and the imagined. Throughout her career, Newsha Tavakolian has received numerous awards, including the Carmignac Gestion Award, the Prince Claus Award (principal laureate), and several international photo prizes. Her photographs have been featured in prestigious exhibitions worldwide. Amongst others, Tavakolian's work has found its place in the private collections of international institutions, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), the British Museum, Sackler Gallery, and the Boston Museum of Fine Art. In 2019, Tavakolian made her first short film, “For the Sake of Calmness.” She is now preparing for the production of her first feature film in Iran and Romania.