In ancient Persian literature, ماه طلعت (moon-faced) was used as an adjective to describe beauty in both men and women. In contemporary Iran, the term refers to the beauty of women only.

A similar change occurred in Persian portraiture. Gender-fluid depictions of beauty ended after Western modernization, European realistic painting, and camera technology came into prominence in the region. 

In ماه طلعت (Moon-faced), artist Morehshin Allahyari focuses on portraits painted during the Qajar dynasty in Iran (1786–1925) to analyze shifts in cultural ideas regarding gender and desire. While highlighting the powerful effect of imagery on societal norms, beliefs, and networks, the artist also seeks to undo and repair the impact of Westernization in Persian visual culture.

Using a carefully researched set of keywords and digital images of Qajar dynasty portraits, Allahyari collaborated with artificial intelligence (AI) to compose new nonbinary portraits. As AI processes the content Allahyari provided, it continuously—and minutely—alters the faces and bodies of the subjects. 

Allahyari commissioned Iranian designer and musician Mani Nilchiani to create a soundscape for ماه طلعت (Moon-faced). His work saturates the gallery with elements of Iranian classical music combined with ambient electronic noises and glitch-like breaks in the sound. The effect conveys a sense of modern aesthetics influencing historical melodies and vice versa.

The calming pace of Nilchiani’s score and the enlarged portraits encountered at eye-level establish a reverent environment. In this space, Allahyari proposes that technology can honor historical narratives while reimagining the impact and interpersonal foundation that can be built with such narratives existing in the future.