Kings and Conquerors presents paintings by Iranian-born, New York-based Orkideh Torabi. Grounded in the style of Persian miniatures, the works undermine male-dominated hierarchies by positing masculinity as farce. Men appear dependent, buffoonish, and powerless while women take the reins—literally and otherwise. Painted in festive yellows and pinks using a layered dye-transfer technique, the works inherit a tradition of criticizing power through humor. In Torabi's world, the joke is always on the patriarch.
