Young contemporary artists from Tehran are exhibiting their work reflecting modern Iran in an exhibition entitled ‘Made in Iran’ at Asia House, London. The timing of the exhibition is an ironical coincidence indeed since modern Iran and people of Iran have been in international news for past few weeks. Citizens of Iran were out on streets in large numbers protesting against election results and showing their dissent against hardliner Iranian government. The exhibition too reveals the same modern Iran which is still caught in a sort of time wrap between tradition and modernity. These works of art offer a rare insight into contradictions and complexities of the modern Iranian society.
Shirin Alaibadi’s photographs it seems are extremely intriguing. These are portraits of modern Iranian women embracing western beauty constructs but still abiding rigid Islamic codes of conduct. So even if the face is modern the garb is traditional. Not all works of different artists is about people. Arash Hanaei’s work depicts towers of Tehran and high rises through his graphic art. The changing cityscape and modern architecture too are the signatures of present and modernity while the Iranian society is struggling to hold on to the traditional past.
The exhibition truly unravels the changing face of Iran which was more than evident on the streets of Iran few days ago. This really shows that works of art do reflect the times. The exhibition will be on till July 9th 2009.
Click here to view some of the art works displayed at the exhibition.
Posted on June 29th, 2009 at 7:20 pm by Madhuri Katti
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