Abbas Kiarostami: Doors Without Keys

A tear streamed down my right cheek. Standing in a dimly-lit room, I peered through a geometric screen at what first appeared to be just an old door. But nothing is just anything – especially when you find yourself shoulder to shoulder with one of the greatest poets, filmmakers and creative minds of our time. Abbas Kiarostami turned to me and said: it’s grandmothers door. He then took a piece of paper and demonstrated what he wanted those visiting his installation to do; I was to share a message with my grandma by slipping it through the mashrabiya…

I stepped away. With a heavy heart and trembling hand I wrote my very first words to my grandmother on a torn sheet of paper: “although I never met you, I feel you.” I walked back to the piece and released the note into the box that cocooned her door. It is moments like these – so poignant, so moving – that artists like Kiarostami can so beautifully create…

Doors Without Keys – a world premier which runs November 21-March 27 at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto – is a deeply nostalgic installation. And one I recommend reflecting on alone. “Each viewer will have their own valid storied experiences as they encounter this work.” said Peter Scarlet, veteran film curator and film festival programmer. And that is the beauty of Kiarostami’s work. Like his films, a storyline is never spoon-fed to the viewer. In fact, what he does so well is leave just enough room for the audience to step inside and create their own journey and narrative…

The 50 doors in his installation (most of which no longer exist) were originally photographed in Morocco, France, Iran and Italy. But the artist does not reveal individual locations and stories behind each door — that, he leaves to the visitor to determine as they walk through a labyrinth  of photographs. By not providing details, Kiarostami liberates the mind and pushes it beyond simplistic deductions to deep reflections. He is subtle, deliberate and eloquently poetic. This is art at its very best…

“We are not able to look at what we have in front of us, unless it is inside a frame” – Abbas Kiarostami

 

I’ll refrain from providing any more reflections to keep in line with the intended goal of the artist. This is a journey I hope you have the chance of experiencing firsthand at the Aga Khan Museum this winter (and hopefully in other cities as I’m almost certain Doors Without Keys will travel the world). The seemingly simple collection of photographs is sure to evoke lingering thoughts and memories that will resonate with you.

I was a guest of the Aga Khan Museum during their media preview of the installation. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own.