Ice-cream: Something Suitable for Closure:
Kurzfilm(1:59 min) by Ava Jalali

In September 2019, Iranian news media reported a ban on women eating funnel ice cream in public places, possibly due to the perceived eroticism of licking ice cream. Although officials quickly denied the news, it sparked something within me. For a while, I found it difficult to eat ice cream in public, which led me to question why my mind could believe such a rumor and how this belief could affect my existence in society. In this project, twenty girls wearing approved Islamic attire (dark-colored manteau and wimple) each hold a funnel ice cream without licking it. We see the ice cream melting in their hands. We chose a segment of the public domain for our performance, strategically positioned beside the City Theatre, firmly under the control of the Islamic Republic. This project served as a deliberate initiative to reclaim both the commandeered executive and public space.

Licking
Kurzfilm(1:55 min) by Ava Jalali

Licking was conceived after the “Ice-Cream” project. A question inspired this video: What phenomenon emerges from prohibiting and not doing something inherently erotic? What effect might an inverse approach have on this phenomenon? I hypothesized that openly and repeatedly engaging in the forbidden act could break existing taboos. This work was my attempt to assert a more prominent presence in a society that denies women as inherently erotic beings.

BIO
Ava Jalali

Ava Jalali is a multidisciplinary artist. Her roots are deeply intertwined with the world of performing art. Her creative journey is a captivating exploration, primarily centered around the intricacies of the human body and the dynamics of social existence. In her quest, she delves deep into the connections between these two realms, constantly challenging established norms and perceptions.
At the core of Ava’s artistic ethos lies an unwavering commitment to inquiry. Her relentless questioning is fueled by an insatiable curiosity, propelling her to dissect her surroundings with precision. Through her work, she endeavors to carve out space for profound metamorphosis, particularly within the realms of politics and society. Ava’s artistic stance serves as a beacon for transformative change, inspiring reflection and sparking dialogue on the intricacies of the human experience.

Image credits: Aram Tahmasebi