The artwork titled “Careless” by Shirin Neshat, created in 1997, belongs to the Contemporary and Feminist Art movements. This piece is a photo that exemplifies the genre.
The artwork portrays a close-up view of a person’s torso, focusing on the chest area, rendered in a black and white photograph. Its most striking feature is the intricate calligraphy that spirals outward from the center of the chest, seeming to radiate across the skin. These lines of text form a circular pattern, drawing the viewer’s attention inward while simultaneously spreading across the broader surface of the torso. The contrast between the dark, dense hair and the lighter areas of the skin further accentuates the spiraling text, creating a dynamic interplay between the natural and the inscribed. The surrounding areas also feature calligraphic script, adding to the layered texture and depth of the composition, enhancing its visual and interpretative complexity.
