Considering Logan artist Fazilat Soukhakian began her career as a photojournalist in her native Iran, it is unsurprising that we best know her artistic portfolio for works that center the human form, largely in a documentary style. You may have seen the Utah State University professor’s portraits of queer Utahns in UMOCA’s 2023 A Greater Utah, or her images depicting the changing roles of Muslim women in Islamic society in The Granary’s 2021 Anonymous Battle. If so, the main body of work in Under the Same Sky, at Material through Sep. 20, will stand out for the absence of the human form. These remain extremely humane, narrative works despite that absence.
Now … I Let Go is a photographic series that explores the powerful, emotional connection between mortality, remembrance and everyday objects. When the artist’s father died during the COVID-19 pandemic and Soukhakian was unable to return home to attend his funeral, she found herself compensating by taking walks through cemeteries near her home in Utah. During these walks she was struck by the objects grieving loved ones left at graves as tributes. These items, often mundane and worn, suddenly become vessels of memory, keeping the deceased alive in the hearts of those left behind. From a solitary cigarette left on a grave to a playing card or old rotary phone, these objects tell stories of life, loss and love.
Each photograph in the series is meticulously composed within a wooden box frame, suggesting the containment of death and the preservation of memory. Natural elements of dried and fresh plants underscore the cycle of life and death, with the mix of both living and decaying materials reflecting the artist’s contemplation on mortality. These delicate, floral compositions surround objects that were once part of daily life, now transformed into sacred relics that embody the essence of those who are gone. One striking image shows a vibrant, ruby red shoe nestled among greenery, a visual representation of a moment frozen in time, echoing the memory of the person who once wore it. Another photograph features a tea set surrounded by purple and white flowers, a tribute to the artist’s cherished ritual of afternoon tea shared with her father. These images evoke a sense of stillness and reflection, inviting viewers to pause and consider their own connections to similar objects in their lives.
A dozen of these colorful, texturally-engaging images are on display in Material’s main space, while the gallery’s smaller exhibition space features samples from additional bodies of work. Through striking images of untamed hair, Forbidden Hair reflects the tension between personal identity and societal expectations, highlighting the forbidden allure of something as natural and beautiful as hair, which becomes a symbol of sin and rebellion. This is Me captures the poignant contrast between the vibrant youth of elderly individuals, symbolized by the portraits they hold, and the realities of their present selves, hidden behind their aged hands, reflecting the passage of time, lost cheerfulness, and the weight of historical change they once fought for but now seem burdened by.
Under the Same Sky creates a space for viewers to engage deeply with themes of memory, identity, and resilience. Whether through the vibrant colors, intricate details, or powerful narratives, Soukhakian’s art challenges us to reconsider the way we see both ourselves and the world around us.
Under the Same Sky, Material, South Salt Lake, through Sep. 20, with a reception Friday, Aug. 16, 6-9 pm
The founder of Artists of Utah and editor of its online magazine, 15 Bytes, Shawn Rossiter has undergraduate degrees in English, French and Italian Literature and studied Comparative Literature in graduate school before pursuing a career in art.
Categories: Exhibition Reviews | Visual Arts
