Daryush Shokof
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LIFE:
Daryush Shokof was born under the name Alireza Shokoufandeh in Tehran, Iran in June 25,1954. He is an Artist, writer ,Film maker, and philosopher with vast variety of works in each of the mentioned fields. he lives currently in Germany. He left Iran in the seventies to continue education in the USA. He got a degree from E.N.M.U. in Physics and Mathematics, and further a Master, s degree in Management from U.D. in Texas. Shokof moved to New York and got interested in both the arts and writing scripts. His first encounter with the arts was at the age of 8 where he painted a copy of a Picasso work in the dining room of their house. His father was so shocked by the work that he encouraged the boy in further paintings. Shokof mentioned in one of his film,s press conferences that he owes all his work to copying from the masters(press conference of his film SEVEN SERVANTS at Locarno Film Festival,1996). He added that he became a screen-play writer at the age of 11 and again for copying works of the master,s but this time by lying to the father that the work was his own (he had copied scripts from films by Fellini, and Pasolini, and writing of Sartre). He had changed some of the names in the scripts and some situations. the proud father shows the works to a whole crowd of people which soon earned the small featured Daryush Shokof a title of Genius at the age of 11. He further stressed the fact that copying such works from the masters helps one to become creative as almost always a creative person would add elements of his own to any works one copies from. However, he never achieved the level of the masters as a script writer until he finally wrote a film script at the age 40 that was worthy of attention from the serious level of the Hollywood scene.the two living legends of Cinema Marlon Brando and Anthony Quinn became earnestly interested in the script. both actors had such an interest in playing the lead in the film of Seven Servants that they both accepted to do the film almost free of charge. Anthony Quinn appeared in the lead which in many opinions is perhaps the greatest work of his life in SEVEN SERVANTS. the film went on to more than 50 major film festivals, but has yet to be available to public:
www.IFVC.com
Shokof had become a full time artist while simultaneously continued restlessly writing film scripts in Germany by 1989. He coined the term Maximalism in the arts in Cologne, Germany in 1990. The shows of Maximalism got attention from both artists and Galleries in Europe and in the USA where many exhibitions were done under that term. The first such exhibition was at the gallery Juliane Schulze in Cologne, Germany in 1990.
Among the many names of the artists participating in shows of Maximalism during the next two years were:
Milan Kunc, Wainer Vaccari, Jan Knapp, Marcello Jori, Mark Kostabi, Jeff Koons,Helgi Freidjohnsson,Luigi Ontani, Salvo, Boetti,Jim Dine,Robert Green, Shokof, and more.
MAXIMALISM MANIFEST
Shokof wrote a manifest to the thoughts of Maximalism in his first solo show at the Gallery Schulze which start as follows;
Human beings are not inferior to either God and or Satan. All writings in all religions regarding Heavens and Hell,are wrong for creating fear amongst man-kind and by giving them rules and laws how to enter the heavens and or be doomed to hell. He continues that we (the Human-Beings) are actually the saviors to the eternal separation between God and Satan as they are now two tired forces longing and waiting to make up again. This coming together of God and Satan is called the eternal peace in cosmos by Shokof,s Maximalist view. This final phase of peace in creation he writes can only happen with our Unity on Earth (he calls this most important process YEKISHIM).
our unity is the only element that could bring God and Satan back together and thereafter the eternal peace will occur which in time opens the gate to the truth about all Creation to man-kind.
ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES
Daryush Shokof has been a most prolific artist and filmmaker who has made more than 12 feature films ever since 2001, and 10 short films with a vivid signature and most original concepts of his own. his name is now mentioned alongside the cinema,s most influential Directors and his film Seven Servants has been amongst the top 10 in many world rankings:
www.filmregisseurs.html www.AWCM.us
He continues making movies under extraordinary conditions as an independent filmmaker. he has never received funds to make a movie from any film industry and or a country for any of his films. None of his films have ever been screened publicly rather than in some festivals, and yet he is gradually becoming a respected cult figure amongst both the cinema scene and that of the arts.
Filmography
angels are wired 1990 Dogs are not allowed 1991 Ben Hur ,the Breathless, Taxi-Driver, in Casablanca 1992 Seven Servants 1996 Magass 1997 Tenussian Vacuvasco 2000 She would..... 2003 Kiss,Long and Close 2003 Venussian Tabutasco 2004 Holy Shit 2005 A2Z 2005 Asudem 2006 Breathful 2007 Smoqing 2007 Epicalypse Now 2007 Soud-less 2007
titles to his films are most original and are eiher based on ART works of his own, and or writings from him;
ASUDEM is said to be an object exhibited in his solo art show at Galleria Verlato in Milano in 1990. he coined the term ASUDEM as an opposite to MEDUSA, with two objects hanging from a scale from which a head of a snake shows the snake suffering from being tortured by heads of troubling people around his head.
EPICALYPSE NOW is a hilariously a funny short film showing a couple faking an epicalyptic attack.
GODHATTAN is a film he has announced to be made in 2010 (in Babylon cinema press conference of his film ASUDEM in 2006). the story is about another planet called GODHATTAN which should mean GOD HAT GETAN meaning God has creted (in German) and comes from an art object from him where two pieces hang from a scale as one shows MANHATTAN(meaning MAN HAT GETAN, man has made in GERMAN). so the object includes manhattan and godhattan hanging fron the scale. this art piece was shown at Bess Cutler Gallery in New York in 1992.
the title of His film VEGETARIAN DRAQULA is supposed to come from a painting by the same name in the art collection of his producer friend Bahman Maghsoudlou, and painted in 1990, in Germany.
SEVEN SERVANTS was a title of a drawing by him called (HOLY HOLES) and after he made the drawing the night he had dreamt of the story line in Germany.
BREATHFUL is the title of another early film of his called; BEN HUR, THE BREATHLESS, TAXI-DRIVER in CASABLANCA in 1990 in New York. he said (at the premiere of BREATHFUL in BERLIN in 2007) that he changed and shortened the title to Breathful (a word he coined at that time as a short for the other film) and later (in 2007) made an ALL WOMEN CAST FILM called BREATHFUL with only one man,s nose (his own nose)as a man,s element in the whole film where two Iranian Lead actresses (Taies FARZAN, and Narges Rashidi) were to make fun of the nose which belongs to an Iranian macho man (himself). Breathful is definitely a cult classic contender ( see IMDB for reviews of this and all other films by this incredible cult artist). he notes on the titling of the film that he has dedicated BREATHFUL to the freedom of women in Iran and from brutal conditions under the Islamic Republic of Iran today.
SHOKOF,S MAXIMALISM
Daryush Shokof coined the term Maximalism in the arts in 1989 in Cologne Germany (Gallery Schulze, Cologne , Germany). He wrote a manifest to the thoughts of Maximalism that was published in his first solo exhibition of Maximalism in the catalog of the show. his thoughts have led to the making of a movie (Seven Servants) in which people get connected to an old man,s body openings (the role is played brilliantly by Anthony Quinn) to become united both physically and in heart. The works of Maximalists were similar in terms of sharing the following specifications: 1.they are figurative. 2.they include Humor in most works as a most important element. 3.Erotic and use of many natural and animals themes are prominent. 4.They are poetic. 5. They never take themselves seriously. Shokof continues in the manifest that God must be a most desirable Feminine being as all major Prophets have been men and it is said that they have flown into this heavenly HOLE into the skies. All major buildings and structures on Earth have been made by men and are mostly in shape of a phallys (Eifel Tower, Empire state building, all cathedrals, and mosques resembling women,s breasts,......). He continues that the meaning of Melancholy is the state of sadness God and Satan have fallen into because of their dispute and separation and for so long. He continues that we (the man kind) are not to fear either Hell and or all religious laws and orders in order to enter the Heavens. He continue that man kind is actually the SOLUTION to the Eternal conflict between God and Satan and only with our unity on Earth. He concludes that it is now simply clear what the answer is to the ever lasting question of man kind in regards to why we are on Earth m where we came from and what are we here to do: 1. We were created by God, and came onto Earth to show to Satan that God, creatures can Unite, so that Satan would be shameful and pleas God for forgiveness and in turn(as God is forgiving) they will unite and the story of the Creation would unfold to all man kind. 2. So we are here to UNITE. 3.We will always return until the final phase of unity is complete on Earth.
with the above 3 primary elements ,Shokof concludes why Racism is bad and with a clear simple reasoning and not because of abstract theories, but only for it DELAYS the Unity of man kind on Earth and further adds to the Melancholy phase God and Satan are enduring for so long. In the end he continues that since Maximalism is a pure state of freedom of thoughts therefore one should also never take Maximalism as the final answer but consider it as a way of thinking only.
OTHER THOUGHTS,and YEKISHIM:
these can be read in Shokof,s catalog of paintings at the exhibition of his works at the Gallery Schulze in Cologne,Germany in 1990;
COSMOS:we will tour the cosmos and after the final unification of God and Satan which will bring the final peace to creation. thereafter,no abstraction will exist any longer. the ride through he cosmos will be a most enthralling one full of joy, and stunning visuals.
TEMPLE: the maximalist,s temple is EARTH. there shall never be a place designated for any believer of mximalism to go to for a pray. Earth is the place to pray and its gates are open to everyone.
WOMAN: is not only equal to man on Earth, but rather woman is the eternal superior being called GOD as he terms the creator to be a female.
Animals: know the story of the creation, and therefore are not to ever speak, paint and or write, but deep in any animals eyes one can see how they all desire to tell the whole story of creation. they all feel, and many of them can heal man-kind through many troubled phases by the power of their energy, and touch.we need to be kind to animals.
RELIGIONS:are for man-kind to find the way to the creator, but all reigions will guide you to get there singularly.there is never a mention in any religion to seek the path through another religion. each religion mandates the rules, and ways to get to the highest level ONLY if following that religion alone.maximalism believes the way to reach the highest phase in creation is ONLY for mankind to become ONE on earth and both heart and mind, and through whatever teachings one reaches such state of cognizance,may it be meditation, seeking solitude, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, BHUDDISM, Bahaism,Sufism,Zoroastranism.....any other (.......ISM) that teaches you and helps you to become UNITED on earth (and only that as the GOAL of its teaching).that is all what religions should be able to achieve, that is for mankind to UNITE on earth in mind, and heart.no reigion is more holy than the religion of all mankind to become united.
PRAY: there is no praying, fasting, readings, singings, rituals, and or talking sessions with any holies necessary to get to the creator.each person,s obligation on earth is to become united with the next fellow human being on earth to form the final Unity of man-kind as the first step to approach the final unification of GOD and Satan which in thereafter GOD will bring eternal peace in cosmos.the greatest of all prays is for each human to go out of thehouse to become united (both in HEART and MIND) with the next human being he meets.
REINCARNATION:we will all reutrn until the final unity of man-kind on earth is achieved.
RACISM: is the greatest evil in creation as it delays the unity of mankind and further makes the final unification impossible for us to reach the level to clearly witness the final peace in cosmos.Racism keeps Abstraction a necessity for all of us to remain in darkness.
to all SAINTS:
After reaching GOD,all those holy ones, saints and (prophets included) will be told by GOD ;
now go back and UNITE my people. their unity is the biggest religion you could bring to them.
YEKISHIM:
He mentions of the word YEKISHIM as the ultimate goal and perhaps the only ritual he believes in. He explains that the word YEKISHIM means (let us unite) in Persian. all people can use this word, when meeting one another and mean it well from their heart. say it to one another in any language you speak, if it comes from the heart it will be understood. Shokof explains in detail in a section why he chose the word (formed)Yekishim, and believes using the word Yekishim is so important in healthy relationships amongst all people.more on Yekishim can be read in his art catalogs, and also in Wikipedia under Yekishim.
The Catalog of Shokof paintings and some of his Maximalist manifest can be visible under:
www.IFVC.com www.shokof.com
Seven Servants (the film) and Maximalism
This movie is such an important work that it could be discussed in many different perspectives. It is perhaps a first religious statement coming to man kind via a film and not a book. many have referred to this most original film as a religion and not just a movie as it does not have any of motion picture,s elements as we have seen so far such as; there is actually no dramaturgy in the film. there is no Rambo killing a million of strong men with a punch. there are no villains. there are no heroes. no one tries to become popular. it does not defend any living organization and or reject any. there is no bank robbery in the film. there are no chase scenes. there is no girl, boy issue as the main story. no one tries to kick a bad habit. there are no guns fired in the film. it does not obey any film traditions as we know it. it simply breaks all the rules we have known in the language of Cinema.
and amazingly enough there exists a film in the end with a mesmerizing effect onto any viewer honest enough to say they have never ever seen anything like it regardless of what one actually would think of the film.regardless of loving or hating it. The film has some of the most unusual lines ever spoken in cinema language. The film has a most unique Art design that resembles Shokof,s own works as a painter of the Maximalist tradition.the design alone is a most innovative ,original, striking new element never seen in movies prior to Seven Servants. The extraordinary configuration of body of people connected to the old man throughout the film is in an absolute relationship to Shokof,s own primary element of Maximalism where he finds Unity of man kind is the ultimate goal of all beings on Earth. Seven Servants traveled many Festivals around the globe and it has never been screened for public anywhere in the world except in some major film festivals.for the name of festivals the film went to you can see: www.IFVC.com
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Daryush Shokof has been a long time activist against the Current Government of Iran (The Islamic Republic of Iran). he has more than often (and always independently) staged courageous acts of demonstrations against the Government of Iran:
He went on a Hunger strike for freedom and justice in Iran , and in front of the house of the GREEN PARTY in Berlin Germany for 7 days:
www.gangi-berlin.de
He was a one man show again against all communications with the current government of Iran as he Boycotted the Berlin Film Festival and personally held Dieter Kosslick( Head of the Festival) responsible for making a giant mistake by inviting films from Iran each year.Shokof denounced all the so called Iranian Banned films and their Director,s as an insult to any intelligent ,civilized, and free-minded person on Earth, and today. Berlin Film Festival and all other major festivals continue to invite Iranian movies with no attention to his protest and he has continued his protest at any chance:
www.againstappeasement.net
THE BICYCLE ACT
protest for positive energy and movement
Shokof had another act of protest for encouragement of activities, and healthy approach to life for Iranians (mostly the troubled youth in Iran today)by riding a Bicycle in the spot for 6 days in front of the U.S. Emabassy in Berlin. He called the act (demonstration in from of the positive energy and movement stop youth addiction in Iran). It is a fact that Iran,s youth and their horrendous addiction to drugs (it is recorded that more than 25% of all Iranians are now addicted )which has been also a major reason for prostitution in the country has been a miserable fact for many years in Iran and under the rule of Islamic republic in the country.
FURTHER LINKS
www.imdb.com
www.crew-united.com
www.beyondpersia.org
195.14.220.187 (talk) 12:05, 16 April 2008 (UTC) 213.196.208.122 (talk) 18:02, 19 April 2008 (UTC)
