Sooreh Hera

Hera was born in Tehran.[3] She is a graduate of the Hague School of Fine Art.[4]

In December 2007, the Islamic Democratic Party "issued a statement calling for a mobilizing of forces."[5] In addition, she was called a "devil artist" with "plans against Islam."[5] These led to death threats against Hera, causing her to go into hiding.[5] She also has a fatwa issued against her.[2]

Hera describes her work as exposing hypocrisy in the teachings of Islam about issues like homosexuality.[2] She feels that it is important to talk about sexuality in order to criticize religion.[3] Hera states that "in countries like Iran or Saudi Arabia it is common for married men to maintain relations with other men."[6] She says that "I'm hoping my work will arouse discussion."[2] One of her censored works, "Adam and Ewald," was a photograph of gay men wearing masks depicting Mohammed and his son-in-law, Ali.[7] "Adam and Ewald" is part of a series called Adam & Ewald, de zevendedagsgeliefden (Adam & Ewald, Seventh-Day Lovers).[8] The title of the series references the story of Adam and Eve, and also refers to a speech from a conservative Christian Dutch politician.[9]

Some museums who have attempted to show Hera's work have been threatened by those who find her work offensive.[5] In November 2007, the Hague Gemeentemuseum removed some of the works created by Hera in order to avoid upsetting the Muslim community.[5] The censoring of her art marked "the first time that a Dutch museum, as opposed to a government body, has censored an artwork from its own walls."[5] The museum director also accused Hera of deliberately creating provocative work in order to receive press attention.[10] Despite that, the museum still considered purchasing her complete series.[11] Hera chose not to participate in the show if some of her work was censored.[12] Artists in the Netherlands supported Hera, publishing an open letter to the Dutch Minister of Culture in the NRC Handelsblad.[13] Hera's work was invited to be shown at the Municipal Museum of Gouda, though the show was postponed due to threats from the Muslim community of Gouda.[13]

• Official site