Iran’s cultural events in summer season (1)

One of the main occupations of art-lovers is visiting visual arts exhibitions, such as painting, photography, sculptor, graphics and design, calligraphy, and traditional arts fairs.

Many such exhibitions are held in Iran throughout the summer season. Today, we have paid visits to a number of galleries across Tehran, and we intend to share our experiences in visiting these galleries, with you. Today, we have gone to Iran’s House of Artists, paying a visit to ceramics exhibition.

Ceramics maintains a special visual feature, when it comes to color, texture, type, and even sound, and upon adoption of an expertise approach, ceramics can be presented as one of the main hand-made products of mankind in this phase in time. Meanwhile, within the contemporary era, one of the main challenges of mankind is the important topic of borders and boundaries, and the corresponding issues of concern. Given that ceramics revolves round the domains of art and industry and has played a decisive role in realms such as painting and sculptor, the ceramics exhibition has focused on the topic of borders and boundaries, this summer season. This exhibition has been convened with the intention of using the features of ceramics to study the contemporary concerns over borders and boundaries. Boundaries can define the borders of a territory or a symbol of sovereignty, and restriction of this term to geographical and physical borders is an easy task. A broader definition of boundaries can be found in many of the latent but vital aspects of personal and collective life of mankind, such as the boundaries between one and others; genders; social strata; ethics; beliefs; cultures, and boundaries between arts and industry, and arts media.

In this manner, determination of boundaries plays a significant role in human relations in geographical, political, economic, cultural, and arts realms. Humans have strived toward an advanced society by setting boundaries, while at other times by shattering these boundaries; they have changed the direction of perfectionism or relativism. In shattering these boundaries, the frontiers of modernity were determined by distancing from traditions. This exhibition displays the works of artists, based on a fresh viewpoint toward these boundaries.

Laleh Gallery in Tehran has displayed artistic works, such as paintings and statues throughout the summer season. The works of the artists, participating in this exhibition, are a reminder of Iranian tales and epics; each of which have tried to create personal imaginary creatures based on a new approach, and have presented a contemporary narration of ancient legends. This exhibition familiarizes visitors with some of the aspects of literary, and legendary Iranian tales, and could even motivate the visitors to further study these tales.

The exhibition of the works of Iran’s renowned figures has been underway at Niavaran Cultural House in Tehran. In this exhibition, the works of well-known artists in the field of visual arts are on public display, as well as the portraits of two hundred and forty figures, which have been chosen from scientific, cultural, and artistic realms.

After the victory of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, the best figures in the fields of science, culture, and arts have been introduced every year. In this exhibition, the photo portraits of a number of well-known figures are shown. Furthermore, the paintings and calligraphy of a number of experts in visual arts, such as Mahmoud Farshchian, Jalil Rasouli, and Ali Akbar Sadeqi have been showcased.

One of the most important artistic events has been an auction of works of art which was staged for the seventh time in Tehran. Tehran’s auction is a cultural and economic initiative in response to the warm welcome granted to artistic creations. This auction also raises a unique opportunity to gain access to the best modern, and contemporary Iranian works of art in appropriate and assuring conditions. Tehran auction has been named as an important event and a huge leap in the economy of Iran’s contemporary arts. This auction has been shaped based on the necessities of the domestic arts market, with the intention of presenting the best modern and present-day artistic works, and for the qualitative and quantitative promotion of transactions in the field of arts.

The first auction was held in the year 2012, presenting 73 works from 70 artists. The selected works were mainly classified into four groups; namely paintings, calligraphy, sculptor, and photography. Paintings maintained a lion’s share of the works of art sold at the exhibition.

Tehran’s second auction was convened in the year 2013. Its number of visitors rose from a hundred to eight hundred, while 82 works of art from 79 artists went under the hammer. The statistical survey of this auction showed the economic growth of Iran’s arts market.

Tehran’s third auction was convened in the year 2014, in which 90 works of art from 87 artists were presented. In addition to presence of collectors and artists; a number of economic advisors, statesmen, and the then minister of culture and Islamic guidance attended this auction. The basic price of auctioned items showed a 114% growth in the second auction in comparison to the first auction, and a 58% rise from the second year to the third year. The warm welcome accorded to this auction shows the trust of purchasers, and reinforcement of this national market.

Tehran’s fourth auction was staged in the presence of 126 works of art from 109 artists. The record price of sold items belonged to a work of renowned Iranian painter and poet, Sohrab Sepehri, sold at a staggering price of Rls.28bn.

In the year 2016, Tehran’s auction was held twice. Several officials were present in the first auction, while the second auction was totally dedicated to contemporary works of art. In the 6^th auction, 120 works of contemporary veteran artists and talented and well-known youths were displayed within the framework of paintings, photos, and statues.

The 7^th auction, which was held in early summer season, this year, sold a total of Rls.260bn worth of items. One of the works of Sohrab Sepehri was sold at a whopping price of Rls.30.1bn.

Tehran auction has left a positive impact on the economic growth of Iran’s arts. Auctions cannot determine the direction of arts, or do not maintain a plan for discovery of artists. However Tehran auction has introduced young and capable artists, in an appropriate manner, and has also achieved its set goals, such as the tangible reduction of gap between the domestic and international markets’ prices.

At times, Tehran auction has even sold a number of items prior to international auctions, boosting the value of visual arts and assisting the economy of arts. Furthermore, by focusing on visual arts, Tehran’s auction has drawn the attention of investors to this sector.

AS/ME