Pooya Aryanpour and Morteza Darehbaghi at MEEM Gallery in Dubai
Meem Gallery and Mehrnoush Fatholahi are pleased to present the opening of a joint exhibition displaying the work of Iran's leading contemporary artists Pooya Aryanpour and Morteza Darehbaghi on 22 February. - 2/4/10
The Sour Notes of Iran's Art Diplomacy
Late last month — around the time the Iranian government executed two more political prisoners, charging nine others with waging war against God, a capital offense — the Tehran Symphony Orchestra was sent on a government-sponsored tour across Europe, which just ended this week. It played the so-called Peace and Friendship Symphony, by Majid Entezami -New York Times - 2/4/10
No Information About Jailed Iranian Artist Mehraneh Atashi
Internationally recognized photographer Mehraneh Atashi, along with her husband Madjid Ghaffari, were arrested on 12 January 2010 in their home in Tehran and detained, apparently in solitary confinement in ward 209 of Evin prison, but authorities have released no information about charges against them, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported today. - 2/2/10
Iranian participants in 1st International Exhibition - poster for a Healthier World
Institute of Advanced Studies in Architecture and Design, Mexico. At this time, Institute's mission as journalists is to educate parents and those interested in the welfare of children and people in general about health and prevent developmental problems caused by exposure to toxic substances, but also educate the media, policy makers and general public on the fact that environmental health is a key determinant of public health. - 2/1/10
Exhibition by Reena Kallat and Sara Rahbar: Never Run Away
The two artists in this exhibition, Reena Kallat and Sara Rahbar, live on different continents, Asia and North America, or sometimes on the same one, namely Asia (India and Iran), from where their observations about the nature of power as it effects belonging informs their individual practices. - 2/1/10
Exhibition: Tehran, Virtual and Real - In Memory of "Mehdi Sahabi"
I am incapable of registering what I am witnessing these days. My city and I are intertwined. It is a city that is fighting; and as much as the government crackdown is now widespread, so is the people's struggle. Close to the hours of demonstrations, all mobile phones are disconnected, and all SMS messages are barred. It is a misery to try to find out the news. Despite all that, the progressive Greens are present everywhere and the entrenchments are alive. - 1/28/10
The Trail of Green: A one-day Public Art event for 22 Bahman, Anniversary of the Revolution in Iran
Los Angeles, CA- iGreen presents The Trail of Green. A Public Art event in solidarity with the people in Iran. Thirty years after the revolution, people are still deprived of the most basic human rights in Iran. In anticipation of major protests on the streets of Iran, iGreen will do it's part to support Iranian people's struggle for freedom and justice. - 1/28/10
Psyche and Cupid: An Online Exhibition by Rahel Basir at Gallery Mamak
Rahele Basir was born in Tehran in 1980 where she continued to live and study art. In 1995, she was accepted at the Shahed University of Tehran from which she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in painting. - 1/28/10
Secretary of Iranian Academies Masud Kanzi Resigns
Following recent changes in the method of appointment of new directors of specific academies, Kanzi delivered his letter of resignation which was quickly accepted by the directors of the four academies for which he was secretary. -MNA - 1/26/10
Vintage Fashion in Iran: Photographs from the first half of the twentieth century
There was a time, following the military coup of 1920 when women were forced not to wear Hijab. Here are a few photographs from the first half of the twentieth century, the rise of industrial era in Iran. - 1/20/10
A Farewell to Bahman Jalali
With heavy heart and deep sadness I have just came back from the funeral of Bahman Jalali, the photographer, which was held at the Artists plot at Tehran's Beheshte Zahra cemetery. The ceremony started at Artists Forum in the center of Tehran, where many mourners including devoted friends, students and colleagues as well as many well known faces in art in Iran, along with family members had gathered -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 1/17/10
Photographer Bahman Jalali, 1944-2010
Ustad Bahman Jalali was an internationally acclaimed photographer and renowned artist. He had a gentle manner that touched all of those that came to know him, he was good hearted, observant, a private and simple man, but an expert in his field. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 1/16/10
The Persian Kurd: An Online Exhibition by Reza Nosratti
Reza Nosratti was born in Sanandaj, Iranian Kurdistan, in 1980. He received a BA from Shahed Art University of Tehran in 2006 and an MA from the same university in 2008. His works have been exhibited in over thirty solo and group exhibitions in Tehran and Sanandaj. -Gallery Mamak - 1/16/10
Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran
An exhibition of more than 60 works of photography and video installations by 20 of Iran's most celebrated photographers. The exhibition gathers personal perspectives of contemporary Iran filtered through individual sensibilities, while simultaneously addressing public concerns. - 1/13/10
On the occasion of Parvaneh Etemadi's art exhibition: Once Upon a Time
It is a long time that going to art exhibitions seems like reading newspapers or listening to the news, that is devoid of any good news. They are more like illustrated pages of history books left for future generation to actually feel the circumstances. For contemporaries, it is like experiencing the same suffocating horrible despairing surrounding air once more now through somebody else's eyes. -Roya Monajem, Tehran - 1/13/10
Sohrab Sepehri - A Window to Color
In mid-December we went to one of Tehran's most important exhibitions of the year. The Tehran Museum of Modern Art is holding a retrospective exhibition of the paintings of Sohrab Sepehri from their own collection and a few other collections. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 1/3/10
From "Donkey Assumption" to Axiom: Kaveh Najmabad at Tehran's Aaran Gallery
Buridan's ass is an illustration of a paradox in philosophy in the conception of free will. It refers to a hypothetical situation wherein an ass, placed precisely midway between a stack of hay and pail of water, will die of both hunger and thirst since it cannot make any rational decision to choose one over the other - 1/2/10
Born a Painter: Parvaneh Etemadi at Tehran's Mah Gallery
Without a doubt Parvaneh Etemadi is Iran's leading lady artist and has been so for many years. She is one of the rare artists in Iran I know who has been reinventing herself over and over again throughout her career. I have loved the intensity of her work, the great sense of beauty that I feel when I look at them and the thoughts that rush into my mind... -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 12/31/09
Payvand's Top 10 Flickr Photos of 2009
Flickr is one of the best online photo management and sharing applications on the net. This year we have looked over hundreds of photos and here are our top ten photographs posted on Flickr in 2009. It will be fun to see what has attracted viewers in 2009. - 12/27/09
Iran's Academy of Arts Deputy Resigns In Protest to Mousavi's Dismissal
In protest to the dismissal of Mir Hossein Mousavi from his government position as the head of the Academy of Arts, Deputy Chief of the Academy, Mohammad Mehdi Heydarian has resigned. -Zamaneh - 12/24/09
Iran's Opposition Leader Mousavi Stripped of Academy of Art's Post
Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi was dismissed on Tuesday from his government post as the head of the Academy of Arts. Supreme Council of Cultural Revolution, headed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, fired Mir Hossein Mousavi in their Tuesday meeting. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad interrupted his trip to Shiraz in order to attend the meeting and later returned to Shiraz. -Zamaneh - 12/23/09
Exhibition: Fataneh Dadkhah's Balouchi Brides
Balouchi Brides is a series of photographs taken in Balouchestan. Candlestar is delighted to present two photographs by Iranian artist Fataneh Dadkhah. The two photographs (below) are part of Dadkhah's beautiful Balouchi Bride series, and can be commissioned exclusively from Candlestar as limited edition prints. - 12/18/09
Exhibition: Falnama – The Book of Omens
At the Smithsonian Institution: Whether by consulting the position of the planets, casting horoscopes, or interpreting dreams, the art of divination was widely practiced throughout the Islamic world. The most splendid tools ever devised to foretell the future were illustrated texts known as the Falnama (Book of omens). - 12/17/09
Exhibition: Rostam in The Dead Of Winter
In his most political work to date, Fereydon Ave, uses the images of a wrestler wondering among creatures of darkness in the dead of winter. The series is about dying and resurrection and the Chivalry that is dying in the land of Rostam. - 12/16/09
Actress Hedyeh Tehrani Holds Photo Exhibition
Cineastes, artists and fans flocked to the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition by superstar Hedyeh Tehrani here on Wednesday at the Iranian Artists Forum (IAF). Abbas Kiarostami, Tahmineh Milani, Marzieh Borumand, Seifollah Samadian, Habib Rezaii and Amir-Hossein Seddiq were seen among the visitors who came to see the first exhibit of the actress. - 12/11/09
Artists for Iran, a Celebration of the Arts and Human Rights
Los Angeles's Levantine Cultural Center presents an extensive roster of artists and performers in "Artists for Iran," a celebration of the arts and human rights in conjunction with United4Iran.org, which is coordinating related programs in 27 cities worldwide. - 12/10/09
A Rich November in Tehran
The cold wind keeps coming and playing with the Tehran citizens; as soon as we turned all the heating on and put on our woollies, we have had an outburst of a wonderful Indian summer which was short-lived but much appreciated as the air is clean and sky is bright and life, despite the notorious Tehran traffic, becomes a little more bearable; and we can even get a glimpse of my beloved Mount Damavand! -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 12/6/09
Tehran Art Scene: Interesting Works of Masoud Sadeddin at Homa Gallery
I was delighted simply because someone - man or woman - had changed the emphasis of their work to men. Life for any kind of women, let alone a modern one in Iran, has not been easy in the past few decades and yes, we did suffer and still do, but who says that men do not as well? -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 12/4/09
War: An Online Exhibition by Haedeh Zarrinbal
Haedeh Zarrinbal was born in Tehran, Iran in 1946. She received her primary school education in Iran's oil rich city of Ahvaz after her family was transferred there due to her father's work. She then went on to graduate from the Tehran College of Fine Arts in 1970. She spent the following seventeen years of her life teaching at various Iranian universities and institutions. -Gallery Mamak - 12/3/09
Shima Esfandiyari's deep and powerful drawings at Mah Gallery
Last Friday, with a couple of fun friends, we set off gallery hunting. Mah Gallery, which is very close to where we live, was our last stop. We spent a long time there enjoying the spacious gallery, the good tea and shirini (sweets), as well as the delight of seeing the owner/manager Ms. Shahnaz Khonsari. She introduced us to the lady painter whose works were on display which we enjoyed as we moved around the large gallery rooms. - 12/2/09
Turquoise Letters: An exhibition of paintings and films from British-based Iranian painter Kourosh Salehi
Kourosh Salehi will show a collection of his paintings and film installations at the Idea Generation Gallery, East London, 10 - 16 December 2009. Salehi is part of a group of post-revolution Iranian artists who have merged East-Western traditions to articulate a new language of exile. This exhibition, a collection of paintings and video art, surveys the most recent work of this important painter. - 11/27/09
Mother, Daughter Artists: Shadi Mahsa and Rana Amirteymour
Born in Tehran in 1967, Shadi Mahsa has been painting since she was 7. Now Shadi's daughter Rana Amirteymour has joined her and is walking in her footsteps in the world of art. Shadi and Rana had an exhibition in Tehran's Aaran Gallery last month and it was a big success. Rana, the 4-year-old artist, had 34 paintings at the exhibition which were sold for the benefit of Ghaem Charity for the Disabled in Tehran. Shadi also dedicated most of the earnings from the exhibition to the same charity. - 11/24/09
Photos: International Cartoon Biennial Opens in Tehran and Ahvaz
The 9th Tehran International Cartoon Biennial opened Sunday with a ceremony at the Saba Art and Cultural Institute. The biennial is being held concurrently at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts and the Ahvaz Museum of Contemporary Art from November 22 to December 16. - 11/23/09
ReOrient 2009
For four weeks, this one of a kind festival turns San Francisco into a Mecca for innovative, spirited, and thought-provoking theatre from around the world. Providing a rare opportunity for artists and audiences alike to engage deeply and directly with the Middle East in a creative and supportive setting that displaces misinformation and encourages understanding. - 11/22/09
Mehdi Sahabi (1943-2009): A Translator and an Artist
Mehdi Sahabi was born in 1943 in Ghazvin and died last week in Paris. He was buried last Thursday at the artists plot in Beheshte Zahra. Many well known art and literary figures were present for his funeral. He was one of Iran's best known and respected translators and usually translated from French but also from Italian and English. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 11/21/09
Photos: Parizad Khanom
I just returned from Iran and did some new photos. As I was visiting and shooting a few of the Qajar palaces, I couldn't help but wondering about the Qajar harems. Nasseredin Shah Qaiar had about 100 wives. However, only a few were among the favorites, such as Anis Al-Doleh; many were overlooked. I wondered how lonely life must have been for the new brides who were never to be taken seriously. -Niki Koohpaima - 11/18/09
Iran: Academy of Arts Members Criticize Modification of Charter by Ahmadinejad to Remove Mousavi as President
Ahmadinejad in an unprecedented act, as the head of the Revolutionary Cultural Council, by issuing a new memo changed the existing constitution of the Academy of Arts so that it would lay the grounds for dismissing Mir Hossein Mousavi as the president of the Academy. - 11/14/09
Happy Children at Mexican Embassy in Tehran
Some months ago Cultural section of the Mexican Embassy in Tehran sent out an invitation to many of Tehran schools inviting their students to take part in 13th Children's drawing Contest" launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, primarily aimed at Mexicans children abroad, but also open to children around the world. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 11/13/09
Online Exhibition by Touka Neyestani at Gallery Mamak: "I Think Therefore I Am More"
Born in 1960, in Shahroud, Iran, Touka Neyestani studied architecture at the Science and Industry University of Tehran from which he graduated with a Masters degree. Upon graduation, he started working with several weekly publications including the famous Ketab-e-Jomeh whose editor was none other than Ahmad Shamloo, one of Iran's most famous contemporary poets. - 11/12/09
1001 colors: Contemporary art from Iran
New York is set to hold an exhibition of paintings by 23 internationally-renowned and emerging contemporary artists from Iran. 1001 Colors, Contemporary Art from Iran will present 50 artworks created in various styles including expressionism and abstract, addressing the interplay between the traditional and modern Iranian culture. - 11/10/09
Aun Gallery: The latest talk of the town in Tehran
Tehran is full of surprises these days, and one of these has been the opening of a new gallery, which must make many artists green with envy to be able to show their work there. Aun Gallery was designed and built by Ms. Afarin Neyssari, an architect who is one of the owners; although due to her busy schedule it took longer than intended. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 11/10/09
Parviz Tanavoli and Abbas Kiarostami Exhibition in Dubai
Meem Gallery is pleased to present the opening of a joint exhibition displaying the work of two of the Middle East's most significant artists, Parviz Tanavoli and Abbas Kiarostami on 9 November. The exhibition will feature 30 pieces by Tanavoli, Iran's most eminent sculptor, and 13 photographic works by celebrated filmmaker and photographer Kiarostami. - 11/9/09
Exhibition: A Diasporic offering to the Ancestors
Join Priya Assal and many other SF BayArea artists at Oakland’s Gallery 550 from Nov 6th to 28th 2009. This is a group show by 30 edgy artists and is NOT TO BE MISSED! - 11/3/09
Dream the Impossible Dream
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. -Syma Sayyah, Tehran - 11/2/09
Project: One Day - A Collective Narrative of Tehran
Featuring the work of eight artists living in Tehran, Iran; Nima Alizadeh, Saba Alizadeh, Mohammad Ghazali, Ghazaleh Hedayat, Abbas Kowsari, Mehran Mohajer, Neda Razavipour, and Homayoun Sirizi – alongside new work by San Francisco-based artist Taraneh Hemami. - 11/1/09
I Ran Home (In America)
The Fridge DC is pleased to present our November 2009 exhibition, I RAN Home (In America), running November 5 through November 29, 2009. Iranian artists have become players in the national and international contemporary art scene, but too often, this genre is tied to politics... - 10/24/09
Pearls on the Ocean Floor: Documentary about the lives and work of contemporary Iranian women artists
Morono Kiang Gallery in Los Angeles presents a special preview screening of Pearls on the Ocean Floor, a new documentary (in progress) by Robert Adanto, about the lives and work of contemporary Iranian women artists around the world. The segment being presented includes interviews with Afshan Ketabchi, Sara Rahbar, Leila Pazooki, Parastou Forouhar, Shirin Neshat, Negar Ahkami and Pooneh Maghazehe. - 10/22/09
Photos: Tehran International Poster Biennial opens at TMCA
The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts (TMCA) is hosting the 10th Tehran International Poster Biennial beginning Monday. Over 1800 works by 793 artists from 24 countries were submitted to the gala out of which 264 works will be on display during the one-month event - 10/20/09
I Am Obama - Masterpiece By The World-Renowned Artist Davood Roostaei
This magnificent 7' x 12' feet painting of Davood Roostaei entitled "I am Obama" depicts the history of approximately 45 key White and African-American leaders through slavery, the American War of Independence, the Abolitionist Movement, the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Civil Rights struggle to the day President-elect Barack Obama made history. - 10/20/09
The first Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize is awarded to Mahmoud Bakhshi Moakhar
The winner of the Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize (MOP CAP) was announced at an auction and gala at the Royal College of Art, London, on Saturday 17th October 2009. Mahmoud Bakhshi Moakhar was chosen from the six MOP CAP Finalists as the inaugural MOP CAP Winner, and will be rewarded with a solo show at a space in the Saatchi Gallery, in Autumn 2010. - 10/18/09
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