The Book of Kings.

The Book of Kings photographic series was exhibited at Gladstone Gallery in New York in early 2012. It consists of a number of black and white photographs of the Arab youth, patriots and followers of the Arab Spring. The Arabic calligraphy written on the faces were passages from the ancient epic Shahnameh, written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi, which included stories of epic uprisings (Kisa). By including these passages in the photographs, Shirin was able to draw a parallel between the present uprisings in the Middle East and the past and how it seems to be an endless cycle of violence and peace (Kisa). Using the particular faces of the Arab Spring gives the audience a special connection to the images and somewhat reveals a powerful message to her main audience, the West, that the youth are more patriotic than ever, and are willing to fight for their rights. Using these faces along with the powerful passages show that there are strong movements taking place in her country as well as the Middle East in order to gain their rights as individuals. The media tends to focus on the violence and the negativity that has resulted from the Arab Spring, but Shirin reveals a positive aspect of the uprising and the hope the Arab youth and patriots have given her country.