Reza Afsari
Massoud Arabshahi
Soheila Dowlatabadi
Yaqoub Emdadian
Shahla Etemadi
Golnaz Fathi
Mina Ghaziany
Hossein Khosrowjerdi
Farideh Lashai
Manouchehr Motabar
Rezvan Sadeghzadeh
Koorosh Shishehgaran
Shideh Tami
Contemporary Iranian Painting. An exhibition of Iranian paintings displayed to introduce the American public to the work of contemporary Iranian artists. Consisting of 55 pieces of recent artwork by 13 Iranian artists, Echoes in Blue portrays a cross-section of Iranian artists - including six women. The collection provides a panoramic view of the current art scene within the boundaries of the Islamic Republic.
Contemporary Iranian Painting
ECHOES IN BLUE is an exhibition of Iranian paintings displayed to introduce
the American public to the work of contemporary Iranian artists. Consisting of
55 pieces of recent artwork by 13 Iranian artists, ECHOES IN BLUE portrays a
cross-section of Iranian artists - including six women. The collection
provides a panoramic view of the current art scene within the boundaries of
the Islamic Republic.
In recent years, The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art has actively promoted
Iranian artistsx{2019} careers. It has exhibited their artwork around the world in
prominent venues such as Christies in London and the Meridian Centerx{2019}s touring
exhibition in the United States. Although the Iranian government requires that
the artists stay away from offensive topics to religion and politics, the work
displayed in ECHOES IN BLUE clearly demonstrates the life struggles that
emerge from living within a long-lasting revolutionary state.
** The National Arts Club will present its Gold Medal of Achievement to the
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in recognition of its effort in promoting
art around the world. The award ceremony will take place on the evening of
April 15, 2003.
The exhibition is organized and curated by Homa Taraji and Hamid Ladjevardi.
Homa Taraji is the president of Paradi, an international fine arts
organization based in Los Angeles. Ms. Taraji acts as the liaison to The
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and has done all additional coordination
with the artists in Iran.
Hamid Ladjevardi is manager of Baltic Fund Management and has been actively
involved in investment projects in the Baltic countries since 1991. He is a
trustee of the Zimmerli Art Museum of Rutgers University in New Jersey and in
1999-2000 conceived and organized the world premier touring Baltic Art
Exhibition in the United States.
The artists include: Reza Afsari, Massoud Arabshahi, Soheila Dowlatabadi*,
Yaqoub Emdadian, Shahla Etemadi*, Golnaz Fathi*, Mina Ghaziany*, Hossein
Khosrowjerdi, Farideh Lashai*, Manouchehr Motabar, Rezvan Sadeghzadeh, Koorosh
Shishehgaran, Shideh Tami*
(* female artist)
A sampling of the art and artists:
Hossein Khosrowjerdi displays characters with no identity, struggling with
life issues in a society that operates under the shadow of revolution. His
images depict people straining to maintain their Persian identity in
contradiction with the imposed Islamic identity. Images such as "Empty Jars,"
depict the grief of running out of natural resources. In another work, two
figures are stuck in a mud pool of polluted water with their only hope for
escape an image of a "Paper Boat" floating away.
Shahla Etemadix{2019}s vibrant images of light on water depict a society that bans
men and women intermingling in public and official places. These paintings
detail the curtains installed in the Caspian Sea to provide separate swimming
areas for men and women.
Shideh Tamix{2019}s piercing portraits explore forceful expressions of frustration
showing women living in a society where fundamental Islamic rules limit her
rights to dress, express her thoughts, and act as she chooses.
The exhibition organizers recognize the need to bring contemporary Iranian art
to the attention of a larger audience and demonstrate that in spite of
repression against woman and art, Iranian artists of both genders have
flourished.
Image: Masoud Arabshahi
National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park South
New York