By Syma Sayyah, Tehran

Works of Ramin Parvin

Recently I have been visiting some old and new artist friends.  First of all Mina Ghazian, a distinguished painter invited us to lunch; and a few weeks ago, Ramin Parvin (http://www.payvand.com/news/08/aug/1003.html) telephoned me to invite me to his private show.

Most of Ramin's works were large canvases and I found them and especially the characters in his paintings more relaxed, open and sure of themselves and when I came to meet him and have some tea I found that the same is true for him.  Ramin, who is a film maker as well as a very promising painter, can only go high up in the world of art.

Works of Ramin Parvin:

Later that week, I had an unexpected call from my silent princess, Mahdokht Khanboluki(http://www.payvand.com/news/08/feb/1042.html) who was on her way to Florence to visit her family and to have a small show at one of the galleries there during her stay.  I was delighted and we made sure that despite our busy schedule we went to her studio and saw her work which she had done, some with a fellow artist Fariba Ali Akbar.  Mahdokht to me is not only a very talented artist who has her own way of presenting her world but a most wonderful human being.  I look forward to her return from Italy and seeing her new work.

Works of Mahdokht Khanboluki:

Works of Mahdokht Khanboluki and Fariba Ali Akbar:

October has been a sad time as we went to a few farewell dinners in honor of our dear friend Lizzy who is moving to a new post and as much as we hope she will find new good friends, we hope that she won’t forget her old ones.  A wonderful dinner was given by Khavar and Alireza and the food was divine - I am insisting that she starts running her cookery classes soon.

A few days before that, we were invited to our friends house, they are noted art lovers and collectors in Tehran and we were delighted to see their wonderful art pieces and Paul was most impressed with their termeh collection(http://www.payvand.com/news/08/oct/1297.html)

Termeh

Last but not least, a cousin who was getting married invited me to a ceremony unknown to me, a Hannabandan ceremony.  This is supposed to bring good luck and in the old times, it was more or less a traditional hen party and only for women, when they used to paint their hands and feet with henna in a decorative way, but many things have changed.  Apparently, this is becoming very popular among those who wish to get married and have the financial resources and the will of their loved ones to go through all the trouble for yet another happy party.  The immediate members of both the bride and grooms family buy presents for the other side and they are brought in on a big tray (tabagh) and moved around the hall for all to see.  In the ceremony that I attended, there was a lot of dancing among the friends and family that had been invited.

Hannabandan

As a good omen, they had put some henna paste in form of a heart and they would give  this to the guest with a false gold coin to rub on their hand for health and good luck I assume.  We had a great time with the family and music and great food and and your places were empty,

October has been a strange month like the rest of this year and we have been wondering, worrying about little big things or big little things and friends and the pain and worry that their loved ones endure and what kills me most is the fact that there is very little we can do, yet in my heart I am optimistic although I feel totally exhausted.

 May the forces be with all the Don Quixotes of this world, who believe in their impossible dreams.

... Payvand News - 11/02/09 ... --

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