Azadeh Westergaard’s The One & Only Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar is an interesting biographical book about a performer of Iran who is probably not well known to the general public. Even though she did a concert in the 2000’s I had never heard of her. But then again, I am not familiar with many international performers. But also, maybe her decades long forced silence in her homeland of Iran had something to do with it (and the fact that the concert mentioned in Westergaard’s book was in Canada).
But before that, Faegheh Atashin was only a toddler when she started her career. She would work alongside her father; singing with passion at age four and by adulthood was ready for international fame. But when her country’s 1979 Revolution occurred, women were no longer allowed to sing in public (among other things). Atashin was out of the country, but would return, despite other artistic people fleeing Iran, she was imprisoned and only released on condition she would never sing in public again. But her fans would never forget her or her voice that represented freedom, though she herself, was silent.
Westergaard’s text and illustrations bring all of this and more alive with poetic text and folk-like art. Things are a little “silly” but also lovely. The combination has a sophistication, lightness and still shows the seriousness of things. The publisher description says the technique is highly dimensional collage work, patterned and embellished with block prints, brush pens, and colored pencil, leans into portraiture and stage scenes in this ode to a beloved figure. It is clever, fun and educational. The result is dreamy, but solid and the extras included are a great addition to the life and times of this performer.
Due November 2024; I read via an online reader copy.