Beyond the Exotic – Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography f
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By Candyce Columbus
Esmail Abbasi wrote, �I am looking through old windows for new concepts,
drawing my inspiration from Greek mythological figures like Tantalus,
Procrust and Icarus; the German legends of Siegfried; and Persian
literature such as Rumi�s philosophy and poems.� His images,
particularly �Tantalus� which juxtaposes shackled feet with birds in
flight, have a mystical quality suggesting hidden meaning.
Armenian Arman Stepanian who resides in Iran contributed a series of
photos within photos, also incorporating elements that hold cultural
meaning.
Still and moving images on what is undoubtedly a very hot day are
combined to thought-provoking effect by Sadegh Tirafkan in �Persepolis.�
In contrast, a DVD called �The White Station� by Seifollah Samadian was
filmed during a snowstorm. Both pieces evoke a sense of isolation and
desolation.
�With more than 500,000 Iranian Americans living in Los Angeles County,�
explained Marketing and PR Manger Jennifer Caballero, �we expect this to
elicit a more powerful reaction than elsewhere in the country.�
To enhance the exhibition the museum has planned a series of activities
and events:
Curator Hallman will provide insights into the art, artists, politics
and story behind this bi-national exhibition at 1 p.m. on Sat., July 14.
The Ney Nava Dance Theatre will present an evening of timeless beauty on
Thurs., Aug. 9.
Persian Visions continues through Sept. 9. For more information, visit
Photographs, more than any other medium, have the ability to capture
moments and provide windows into the souls of both the subject and the
individual taking the picture.
Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran, a new exhibit at
Pacific Asia Museum, provides a multi-faceted glimpse into a complex
nation.
This exhibit is part of a larger project, shaped by the mutual interests
of Dr. Ali Reza Sami Azar, the director of the Tehran Museum of
Contemporary Art and Gary Hallman, associate professor in the University
of Minnesota�s Regis Center for Art. An exhibit of works by American
photographers was also shown in Iran.
�The artistry presented in the exhibition is crafted by some of the most
renowned and articulate photographers of Iran,� Hallman said.
With so much attention focused on the current political crisis in Iran,
this exhibit is topical and timely. But while some of the images, such
as those by Kaveh Golestan, examine the heart-wrenching consequences of
violence, the show also explores private and personal lives.
A series of four photos entitled �My Family (Hallelujah 1-4)� by
Shahriar Tavakoli showcase �at home� scenes. In his statement he said, �
This portfolio is a collection, a collection of my family mood. I see
how much humans are attached to these habits and moods, and how these
inconspicuous, petty and passing moods are passed on in the family from
one person to another and become the main ring of their attachment.�