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Tara Gallery Blog

Artists in Conversation: Mahvash Joorabchi

Posted on by Tara Gallery
07 Aug

We bring you the second installment of Artists in Conversation. Here is an interview with artist Mahvash Joorabchi.

We genuinely love to hear your thoughts so post some comments and let us know what you think!
 
 

Tara Gallery: Why is art important?
Mahvash Joorabchi: Art, in any form, provides a sense of calm to human beings; it is a protection mechanism for humanity. Art also bestows certain gentleness on life.

TG: How do artists perceive life?
MJ: Through one’s art, an artist tries to help life’s beauties overcome its problems and hardships, so it brings more peace and calm to the audience.

TG: What is the most memorable response to your work you’ve heard to date?
MJ: That I work freehanded and also work on details.

TG: What is your favorite work of art?
MJ: Vincent van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms (1890)

TG: Who is your favorite artist?
MJ: Vincent van Gogh

TG: What is your style of work?
MJ: Modern Realism.

TG: Please tell us a little about your work.
MJ: I work with oil on canvas using pallet knives and paintbrushes. Sometimes I use acrylic to draw the outlines. I use these materials to capture and depict the inspiration I receive from nature and forests. Throughout my life, nature has always been my source of inspiration. Trees are symbols of perseverance and unconditional love that exist in life. I am most interested in the trunks of trees rather than their leaves. To me, leaves are a symbol of life’s colorfulness, but mortality, while tree trunks give me strength and fortitude to continue living.

TG: How has your work evolved over the years?
MJ: Through exhibitions and discovering more wonders in tree trunks. Also, by understanding three elements– movement, volume, and color.

TG: What work of art do you most identify with?
MJ: Sohrab Sepehri’s trees.

TG: Tell us a little of your educational and artistic background.
MJ: I have a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Damavand College in Tehran [a four year Missionary American liberal arts institution which closed in 1979]; I obtained a “3B certificate” in French from the Iran-France Cultural Institute and another institute in Paris, and I have continued learning French until now; I was the library director at the Industrial Management Institute before the [1979 Islamic] Revolution; and I am a member of the Society of Iranian Painters.

TG: What is most integral to the work of an artist?
MJ: Proportions, colors, and ultimately, beauty and the ability to inspire.

TG: What is the artist’s role in society?
MJ: They are the deliverers of beauty and tranquility to their societies.

TG: What inspires you the most?
MJ: Nature and trees.

TG: Should the arts be funded?
MJ: Yes.

TG: How does funding affect art? That is to say, to what extent should financial support interfere with the work of the artist?
MJ: To the extent that it frees the artist from the anxieties of earning a basic living so that they can freely focus their efforts on what really matters– their art.

TG: Of all the opinions that you’ve heard, which opinion or idea has affected you the most?
MJ: That my paintings have soul and depth and transfer to viewers a sense of being in the nature.

TG: What is the biggest issue facing the artist of today?
MJ: The lack of good quality art supplies and, of course,…everything being so expense!

How has your childhood/upbringing affected your art?
MJ: My late father always loved trees and forests and the paintings in our home always featured such scenes. A painting by Manouchehr Niazi has had the greatest impact on me since childhood.

TG: What effect do you hope your art has on the world?
MJ: To change people’s points of view on trees and attract them to the wonder and beauty of tree trunks.

TG: What suggestions or advice would you give to a young or upcoming artist?
MJ: To study and work more and also to find a different point of view on the subjects of their choosing.

 
 

To view current available works by Mahvash, please visit our Catalog.

 
 
 

24th Annual 100 Works, 100 Artists

Posted on by Tara Gallery
31 Jul

The 24th annual 100 Works, 100 Artists commenced on July 24th in Tehran’s Golestan Gallery. This year’s massive group exhibition will feature an impressive 178 pieces from 160 different established and upcoming Iranian artists.

The exhibition features a vast array of contemporary Iranian art of different mediums and styles, including 40 sculptures. Works by several well known artists will be available, but the 100 Works, 100 Artists is also known to be a springboard for lesser known and younger artists hoping to get a foothold in the art world and consequently, it’s market. With the creation of this annual exhibition, Lili Golestan (the owner & artistic director of Golestan Gallery and curator of this exhibition) has always aimed to showcase the wide spectrum of great art available in Iran with the hopes that the public will support the artists and in turn, the art market will flourish.

The exhibition will run until August 24th at Golestan Gallery.

[Image via Masoud Soheili Photography]

Artists in Conversation: Arman Yaghoobpour

Posted on by Tara Gallery
17 Jul

Artists in Conversation is Tara Gallery’s interview series with various Iranian artists who are working from Iran and abroad. For the first of this series, we ask artist Arman Yaghoobpour to discuss his views on art.

We genuinely love to hear your thoughts so post some comments and let us know what you think!

 
 
 

Tara Gallery: Why is art important?
Arman Yaghoobpour: Throughout history, art has been defined in many ways, but the reality is that every time we try to define art, we have destroyed it and have been accused of being ideological. Art is indefinable; every time we define it as one thing, we are over looking its other meanings and its impact – which is as vast as life itself. This all-encompassing importance causes art to be valued from any standpoint.

TG: How do artists perceive life?
AY: An artist sees life through the culture that has formed him. Thus, the definition of culture varies from person to person and for each artist, life holds a different perspective.

TG: What is the most memorable response to your work you’ve heard to date?
AY: Everyone describes my work as simple and refined.

TG: What is your favorite kind of art?
YA: Painting first, then music.

TG: Who is your favorite artist?
AY: I like many different artists from many different fields, but if I had to pick a painter, I am most interested in Mark Rothko.

TG: What is your style of work?
AY: Perhaps constraining art with specific styles and defining the essence of it is wrong in and of itself. Regarding my work, I started with impressionism and moved towards minimalism and expressionism.

TG: Please tell us a little about your work.
AY: My work mostly reflects themes of nature and as my audience likes to say, it is simple, as I believe beauty is in simplicity.

TG: How has your work evolved over the years?
AY: The transformation of my work is due to lots of practice, understanding of life and defining it for myself.

TG: What medium of art do you most identify with?
AY: Definitely painting.

TG: Tell us a little of your educational and artistic background.
AY: I have a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Painting, and a Ph.D in Art Research. I am also a member of the University’s Science Council and the Dean of Neyshapour University’s Art College.

TG: What is most integral to the work of an artist?
AY: Honesty.

TG: What is the artist’s role in society?
AY: The artist’s role in society depends on his way of thinking. Thus, the artist has no specific role because the meaning and perspective towards life is different for each artist.

TG: What inspires you the most?
AY: Nature.

TG: Should the arts be funded?
AY: Yes.

TG: How does funding affect art?
AY: That is to say, to what extent should financial support interfere with the work of the artist? If an artist accepts the role of financial support in creating art, it will have a key affect on his work.

TG: What is the biggest issue facing the artist of today?
AY: An artist is a member of the society at large and the problems they face are the same problems every one faces.

TG: What effect do you hope your art has on the world?
AY: You must provide a fresh outlook on life.

TG: What suggestions or advice would you give to a young or upcoming artist?
AY: Persevere.

 

yaghoobpour 2

 

To view current available works by Mr. Yaghoobpour, please visit our Catalog.

 
 
 

Group Exhibition at Tehran’s Etemad Gallery

Posted on by Tara Gallery
10 Jul

Today is the opening of a huge summer group exhibition at Tehran’s Etemad Gallery!

In this exhibition, forty artists from different artistic backgrounds will exhibit works of sculpture, paintings, and drawings in a group exhibition.

Works by artists Mohsen Ahmadvand, Ashkan Abdoli, Maryam Azadfallah, Amin Bagheri, Mostafa Choobtarash, Mostafa Darehbaghi, Aylar Dastgiri, Elnaz Farajollahi, Peyman Hooshmandzadeh, Shabnam Jahanshahi, Simin Jalilian, Hoda Kashiha, Golnaz Kianpour, Alireza Masoumi, Omid Masoumi, Shohreh Mehran, Shahla Ahmadi Moghaddam, Mehrdad Mohebali, Saeed Mohammadzadeh Hodehi, Amir Mokhber, Alireza Nekouei, Raheleh Nooravar, Sepideh Nourmohammad Manesh, Abdolhamid Pazoki, Kimia Rahgozar, Mohamad Rahimi, Sara Rahanjam, Mehdi Rangchi, Elmira Rouzbeh, Afarin Sajedi, Nastaran Safaei, Amirhossein Shahbodaghlou, Mohammadreza Shahrokhinehad, Amir Shams, Bahar Taheri, Rashin Teymouri, Leila Vismeh, Ramtin Zad, and Neda Zare will be featured in this exhibtion.

The show will run from 10 July – 24 July, 2015.

[via Honar Online – Translated by Modje Taavon // image via Gallery Etemad]

A Conversation with Artist Shirin Ettehadieh

Posted on by Tara Gallery
03 Jul

Honar Online recently had a conversation with artist Shirin Ettehadieh  regarding her current exhibition Face & Hands at Azad Gallery in Tehran said: “For many years, the subject of my work has been Woman and her hands, and one can always find a trace of women in my work. For this reason, last year I curated an exhibition of works by women artists of different mediums, such as photography, ceramics, and so on… which was highly welcome by the public. In this regard, and to continue with this show, I decided to exhibit my works individually – focusing on the faces and hands of women.

Ettehadieh pointed out that for humans, the hands and face are essential for expressing one’s emotions: “That is how one would be able to interpret someone’s state of mind. Also, I was subconsciously pulled towards this direction – in the previous series, entitled Black Singers, hands were part of the works and an element of the existence of my working subjects. Faces and hands were also elements of the Iranian Tribal Women series, which subconsciously appeared in my works. In my previous exhibitions, some viewers found hands to be a source of inspiration for creating their own pieces and caused them to continue working on it. In this current series, Faces & Hands, I chose to work on the hands and faces of women and created nine large dimension pieces for exhibition.”

In response to a question about why she has chosen women as her main subject, Ettehadieh said: “In my opinion, on whatever path one walks, one must work professionally. Everything cannot work together at once. One must focus on a single element. On the topic of women – I always try to work on a subject that allows me to grasp the depths of that subject and I hope I have been able to do that professionally. The theme of Women will always afford me the opportunity to work more professionally and make me see with more depth.”

 

 

[via Honar Online; translated from Persian by Modje Taavon]

Art News Roundup

Posted on by Tara Gallery
18 Jun

Art News Roundup! Here are some exciting things going on in the Iranian art world:

  • Tehran’s Laleh Gallery will host an exhibition of the latest works from the students of veteran Assyrian-Iranian artist, Hannibal Alkhas (1930-2010). The exhibition runs until June 21st and features work by Reza Bangiz, Bahram Dabiri, Rozita Sharafjahan, Taraneh Sadeghian, Niloufar Ghaderinejad, Ahmad Vakili, Ali Nedaee, Nasser Mohammadi, Masoud Saadeddin, Katayoun Moghaddam, Hadi ziaeddini, Hamed Sahihi, and others. The exhibition is being held in memory of Alkhas.
  • On view since June 12, Abolghassem Saeedi`s first solo exhibition in Iran, will run for one month at the newly-founded Shahrivar gallery in Tehran. The exhibition will showcase 30 artworks by Saeedi.
  • The 7th Tehran International Sculpture Symposium is to be held from September 23 to October 16. The symposium is organized by Tehran’s Municipality Beautification Organization, and according to Mojtaba Musavi [secretary of the symposium], with the aim to help “beautify the urban environment of the city, causing it to bloom with artistic creations, and familiarize the citizens wit hthe process of making new sculptural designs.”
    • Tehran’s Aun Gallery is hosting an exhibition titled “The Pomegranate Project” until June 24th, featuring artworks by Golnar Dashti and Italian artists Vittoria Bagnoli, Miriam Poggiali, Luca Corti, Stefano Galli, Emanuele Greco – all alumni of the Florence Academy of Art.

    Until next week!

Behind the Scenes At the 4th Annual Tehran Auction

Posted on by Tara Gallery
12 Jun

We’re back with photos from behind the scenes at the 4th Annual Tehran Auction! As we reported before, this year’s auction far surpassed expectations yet again, generating over 7 million dollars and selling 125 out of 126 lots! Pretty impressive for an auction event still it its relative infancy.

Our very own Homa Taraji spent time as part of the phone staff taking international bids on the lots. She also presented a talk on the Iranian art market outside of Iran as part as this year’s educational course put forth by Dr. Alireza Sami Azar.

Below are a few photos taken from the auction floor.

Enjoy!

Film Screening At LACMA: Parviz Tanavoli

Posted on by Tara Gallery
10 Jun

Parviz Tanavoli: Poetry in Bronze is a documentary film about the life and work of Parviz Tanavoli, hailed as the Iran’s greatest living sculptor. The film was written, produced, and directed by Terrance Turner and released in 2014. Featuring exclusive interviews with the artist, the film offers insight into Tanavoli’s career, which spans an impressive 50 years.

LACMA will screen this film Sunday, 28 June, 2015 at 3 PM at LACMA’s Brown Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public. Check out the trailer for the documentary, below!

[via LACMA]

Art News Roundup

Posted on by Tara Gallery
05 Jun

Art News Roundup! Here are some exciting things going on in the Iranian art world:

  • Tara Gallery Director, Homa Taraji, gave a talk on the Promotion of Iranian Art in the International Art Market as part of Tehran Auction’s education program on the International Art Market for Iranian Art. Participants received a certificate of completion at the end of the 4 day course held at the Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran, May 26 – May 28, 2015.
  • Sohrab Sepehri’s painting sold for $845K at 4th Tehran Art Auction – The fourth Tehran Auction has broken the all-time record of Iran’s art auctions thanks to the sale of a painting by Iranian renowned poet Sohrab Sepehri for over $845,000.
  • Iranian director Bahram Beizaii’s acclaimed drama Bashu, The Little Stranger will go on screen from June 6 at the “Art & Experience Group” movie theaters in Iran, 26 years after its premiere in 1989.
  • Shirin Neshat: Facing History – A retrospective of Neshat’s work is ongoing at the Smithsonian Institute’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C. The exhibition features her photographs and video installations and will run through September 20, 2015.

Till next week!

Monir at The Guggenheim | A Snapshot

Posted on by Tara Gallery
03 Jun

There are few things more exhilarating than the opportunity to travel. This last week of May, I had the privilege and pleasure of taking a quick trip to New York City. My first gallivant around the city was a visit to the Guggenheim museum to take in Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian’s retrospective.

Encompassing two floors of the museum, Monir’s mirror work sculptures and personal study drawings offered me a glimpse into a different kind of Iranian art which I’d never been exposed to. Mirror work, of course, is a very artisan craft with a long history in Iran. But what happens when one places this craft onto a pedestal and into the white blank space of a museum?

The pieces are so intricate, so detailed, and there are so many facets to the mirrors; one is immediately confronted with a kaleidoscopic version of one’s face. An eye here, wisps of hair there… bits and pieces of you removed from the context of your body and made a part of the artwork itself. It’s incredible, and a bit disconcerting – there just isn’t getting away from one’s self. But again, perhaps that is the point.

I learned so much about Monir – about her upbringing, her life when she came to the States, and her eventual return to Iran. It’s always so inspiring to see what Iranian women have accomplished. These women puncture perceived boundaries – of culture, of nationality, of gender – and I wonder what is left but for us to widen the roads they’ve paved for us?

Here are photos of my favorite pieces – I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

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