The book “Contemporary Iranian Art: Roots, Modern Perspectives” was introduced during a ceremony attended by sculptor Parviz Tanavoli and art critic Alireza Sami-Azar at the Mah-e Mehr Art Institute on Friday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tanavoli praised Keshmirshekan for publication of the book and said, “The author has provided the readers with a comprehensive research on contemporary Iranian art.”
“The author begins with contemporary art since the time of the reign of Qajar king Nasser ad-Din Shah (1831–1896) when European art was formed in Iran. It reaches Kamalolmolk (the Qajar era painter Mohammad Ghaffari) as well as his students, and continues to modern art which is no more than 70 years old,” Tanavoli explained.
His explanation about the artists of the Islamic Revolution and the (1980-1988) Iran-Iraq war is praiseworthy, Tanavoli said.
Sami-Azar next added that despite all the activities conducted on contemporary art, a complete theoretical and analytical research work was missing and this book has a special position in contemporary art of Iran.
“This book contains three important sections, first of which focuses on Saqqakhaneh Movement, an artistic movement that began in Iran during the 1960s. The second reviews the art created after (1979) Islamic Revolution, and the third is a deep analysis of modern contemporary art,” he added.
Sami-Azar also said that the book also centers on Iranian artists living out of the country, adding, “Iranian natives might hold other nationalities, but do not ignore their roots. These artists are part of the roaring rivers of Iranian art.”
Keshmirshekan, also speaking at the ceremony, said that he faced major problems in collecting sources.
He said that the book is a reflection of political, social and cultural issues, and reviews the historical roots in which art has been influenced.
He added that the book does not contain the names of several Iranian artists whom he will try to study more for his next work.
Hamid Keshmirshekan is an art historian, critic and a visiting fellow at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford.
He is also the editor-in-chief of the bilingual quarterly ‘Art Tomorrow’. His other works include “Amidst Shadow and Light: Contemporary Iranian Art and Artists”, and “Contemporary Iranian Art: New Perspectives”. (Tehran Times)
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Tehran, June 14, IRNA – A book on contemporary Iranian art written by art historian Hamid Keshmirshekan has recently been published by Nazar Publications in Tehran.
