"Words cannot express the impact of this work. [...] Just know that it is extremely intelligent."
—Nicolas Mavrikakis (translated by PHI)
EXHIBITION
→ The Fury by Shirin Neshat
- Exhibition
- Contemporary Art
General admission: $25
Student and senior admission: $23
Price including service fees, excluding taxes
13 years old +
Monday and Tuesday:
Closed
Wednesday to Friday:
11 AM to 7 PM (last entry at 6 PM)
Saturday and Sunday:
1 PM to 7 PM (last entry at 6 PM)
Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Look up to address on google map
PHI Centre
Espace 1 and Habitat Sonore
407 Saint-Pierre St
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 2M3
This exhibition addresses sensitive topics, which are specified here.
Before visiting, please review some essential information about the visit, including details on accessibility at the Centre.
To plan a school, community or corporate visit, go to our Group Visits page.
The Fury is a striking and moving tale about the enduring trauma experienced by a fictional female political prisoner.
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Presented by
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A work by
About the exhibition
The Fury, created by Shirin Neshat, is a two-part narrative that takes the audience through the emotional turmoil experienced by the Iranian protagonist. The artwork is presented through a two-channel video and depicts the psychological and emotional state of a woman who remains haunted by violent memories of her detention. The narrative continues with a virtual reality work that transports the audience to experience the physical and emotional charge of this woman.
Content warning: This exhibition addresses issues of violence against women, sexual assault and torture in the context of incarceration.
The Fury
In a highly fictionalized and stylized approach, The Fury explores the sexual exploitation of female political prisoners, referencing the Islamic Republic of Iran's brutal treatment of political prisoners.
During this double-channel video, we follow the psychological and emotional state of a woman who, while now on free, remains haunted by memories of sexual assault, torture and rape from her detention. Throughout this narrative, the artist, Shirin Neshat, poignantly addresses the issue of the female body as both an object of desire and of violence. The Fury is a combination of cinematic flashbacks and dream visions, where Neshat uses music and movement to process and convey the protagonist's trauma.
The Fury is also complemented by a virtual reality (VR) work, where Neshat captures a pivotal scene from the artwork with an all-encompassing effect allowing the spectator to experience the same physical and emotional charge lived by the protagonist. The VR work is a strong example of how the medium can amplify the characteristically breathtaking and—at the same time—completely unfreezing imagery that characterizes Neshat's body of work.
In the media
"[...] Neshat's work engages viewers with the marginalization of Iranian women through an ongoing dialogue between the different video installations that compose her work and, above all, by emphasizing the richness of different perspectives on the same situation."
"A poignant work, both poetic and political, divided into two parts – video and virtual reality."
—Jean Siag (translated by PHI)
"It's a stunning exhibition. [...] It really shook me."
—Laura-Julie Perreault (translated by PHI)
Radio-Canada [Pénélope], July 18, 2023, Duo inter avec Laura-Julie Perreault et Raymond Saint-Pierre
Radio-Canada [Pénélope], July 18, 2023, Duo inter avec Laura-Julie Perreault et Raymond Saint-Pierre
“The tour de force of this work, is that we are in the evocation […], it's intense.”
—Katerine Verebely (translated by PHI)
About the
artist
Photo: Rodolfo Martinez
Shirin Neshat is an Iranian-born artist and filmmaker living in New York. Neshat works and continues to experiment with the mediums of photography, video and film, which she imbues with highly poetic and politically charged images and narratives. They question issues of power, religion, race, gender and the relationship between the past and present, East and West, individual and collective, through her experiences as an Iranian woman living in exile.
Neshat has held numerous solo exhibitions at museums internationally including the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich; Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (Texas); The Broad, Los Angeles; Museo Correr, Venice, Italy; Hirshhorn Museum, Washington D.C. and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Neshat has directed three feature-length films, Women Without Men (2009), which received the Silver Lion Award for Best Director at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, Looking For Oum Kulthum (2017), and most recently Land of Dreams, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival (2021).
Neshat was awarded the Golden Lion Award, the First International Prize at the 48th Biennale di Venezia (1999), the Hiroshima Freedom Prize (2005), the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize (2006) and in 2017, she received the prestigious Praemium Imperiale Award in Tokyo.
She is represented by Gladstone Gallery in New York and Goodman Gallery in London.
Photo: Ryan Murad
Habitat Sonore
To continue your immersive journey at the PHI Centre, tickets to this exhibition include access to Habitat Sonore, PHI's immersive listening room.
Relax and discover Emel Mathlouthi, the enchanting voice behind Shirin Neshat's work, The Fury.
Photo: Exhibition view of The Fury by Shirin Neshat
FAQ
What’s included in The Fury exhibition? What can I expect?
The Fury, created by Shirin Neshat, is a two-part narrative that takes the audience through the emotional turmoil experienced by the Iranian protagonist. The artwork is presented through a two-channel video and depicts the psychological and emotional state of a woman who remains haunted by violent memories of her detention. The narrative continues with a virtual reality work that transports the audience to experience the physical and emotional charge of this woman.
The exhibition also gives you access to PHI’s immersive listening room Habitat Sonore, presenting a piece from artist Emel Mathlouthi, whose voice is featured in the work, The Fury.
How long does the experience last?
Access to the exhibition is valid for a duration of one hour.
In what languages are the works presented?
The Fury is a silent work. Habitat Sonore presents pieces by artist Emel Mathlouthi in both English and Arabic.
Is there mediation available for The Fury?
The PHI Centre offers meditation for all its exhibitions. We encourage you to engage with our staff!
Is the experience accessible to folks with limited mobility?
Yes. The experience is accessible to folks with limited mobility. Please contact us before purchasing your tickets so that we can accommodate you as best we can. (Call 514 225-0525 or email [email protected]).
Is the experience accessible to children?
Please note that the exhibition is reserved for an audience of 13 years and older. Thank you.
Is it possible to wear glasses during the experience?
Yes, but it is favourable to wear contact lenses over eye glasses when using a virtual reality headset (when possible). The maximum size of glasses that can be worn with a virtual reality headset is 142mm in length and 50mm in height.
Is it possible to exchange or refund my ticket?
All of our sales are final. We recommend that you carefully check your order before finalizing your payment since no order can be exchanged, canceled or refunded.
For more information, please refer to the Terms of Sale accepted during the purchase process.
Where can I get tickets to your exhibitions?
You can purchase tickets on our website phi.ca as well as on site.
Is it possible to purchase tickets on site?
Yes, it is possible to purchase tickets on site from our box office. However, we suggest that you purchase your tickets in advance as places are limited.
Can I buy tickets if I don't have a credit card?
Yes, it is possible to purchase tickets with a debit card from our on-site box office.
What happens if I can't find my tickets?
You can contact us by phone at 514-225-0525 during our opening hours or via our email address [email protected] mentioning your full name, the email address associated with your purchase and the exhibition concerned.
Is it possible to transfer my ticket to another person?
No, the PHI Centre ticketing system does not offer the ability to transfer tickets. You can share your ticket with a friend or family member, but you will remain the ticket holder and purchaser.
If a time slot is full, is there another way to get tickets?
Unfortunately, once a time slot is full, it is not possible to obtain additional tickets.
If I have a problem with my online order, who can I contact?
You can contact us by phone at 514-225-0525 during our opening hours or via our email address [email protected]. Please provide us with your full name, your purchase order number, the name of the exhibition concerned and a description of the issue.
What are the accepted forms of payment?
We accept debit and credit cards, except AMEX. Cash payments are not accepted.
What are the service fees?
The service fees correspond to the service offered to you when purchasing your tickets online. These fees are charged through the ticketing platform to cover operational costs such as call centres, ticketing, managing online payments and maintenance of the ticketing platform, etc.
What are the different rates available?
In addition to General Admission tickets (13+), you can purchase a Student rate ticket (with proof of student ID), or at the Senior rate (65+).
Do I have to print my ticket(s)?
It is not necessary. We accept both printed and electronic tickets.
I would like to do a group visit at the PHI Centre; how does it work?
For school visits, please write to [email protected] with the desired date and number of participants.
For corporate visits or for group visits of 10 people or more, please call the box office at 514-225-0525 or write to us at [email protected].
Do all members of my group have to be together to check in?
Yes, if you would like to do the experience together. If you are planning a tour and think your group may arrive at different times, we suggest you order your tickets separately.
Is there on-site parking at the PHI Centre?
The PHI Centre does not have a parking lot, however there are city parking spaces available in the vicinity of our institution. We are also located in between metro stations Place-d'Armes and Square Victoria and various Bixi stations (during the warmer months) for those who plan to use public transportation!
Are there restrooms available on the premises?
Yes, we have non-gendered toilets, as well as accessible facilities, available for your use.
Credits
Presented by
PHI
A work by
Shirin Neshat
Year
2023
Actress
Sheila Vand
Executive Producer
Shoja AzariMusic & Sound Design
Johnny Azari
Vocals
Emel Mathlouthi
Special Effects
Adam Bailey
Costumes
Giulia Theodoli
Makeup
Crystal GossmanVR film
Produced for Vibrog Kunstahal in collaboration with Khora Contemporary and The Animation Workshop
VR filming and production
Christopher Schnoor and Peter Fisher
Locations
The 1896 Studios & StagesOfficers
Tony Azar, Roeg Cohen, Antonio Comas, Ralph Louis Davila, John G, Hugo Huerta Marin, Federico Navarro, Vladimir Radojicic, Tonino Salvini, Efrain Santiago, Urko Suarezaz, Vito Tondo, Frank Wood, Joseph Zamarelli
