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Vast radiant space arises. Greatness. Silence. Infinity. The majesty of landscapes. The sound of the wind, a universal language. “Doubtful. I’m stuck on a crossroad. The only path I know is a one way back.” “Where can I get a fragment of cloud such that the fury of the sun might be mitigated.” “The end of a unpaved road leads to a cloudy sky. Few raindrops on earth.” (A.K.).
Words explaining pictures. Sentences evoking images. The orient is back in Venice. On August, 27th 2007 the photographic exhibition IRAN. People, Roads and Landscapes has been launched, hosted by the Candiani Cultural Centre, Mestre (VE).
The exhibition is presented and edited by Abas Kiarostami (Iranian filmmaker, photographer and writer) and Riccardo Zipoli (professor of Persian language and literature, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice). Along with the work of Kiarostami and Zipoli, other fifty-six Persian artists have been introduced to the public.
Due to tendentious media coverage and a hard-to-shake agreement with past and present US administrations prone to classifying Iran as a member of the “axis of evil”, very little is known about this country.
The rise of Islamism and Islamophobia in the West truly are all burning issues though it has to be admitted that the blatant ignorance of politicians is often a source of major concern. Iran suffers all this. Not by chance the opening of the exhibition has been promptly – and legitimately – preceded by a debate on human rights in Iran. Yet one may wonder why cultural events where US, Russian and Chinese delegations are present are seldom touched by similar issues.
“The exhibition was born to show a different Iran. – says Prof Zipoli –I’m working to portray Iran as it is, a nice place. But unfortunately every discourse on this country is jeopardised by strong preconceptions. The whole public imagery on Iran should be rewritten.”
The exhibition is jointly sponsored by a number of patrons: the Cardiani Cultural Centre, the Cultural Institute of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kel12, Orient Explorer and the Ca’Foscari University of Venice. The photographs, 122 in total, have been all shot in Iran and carefully selected by Prof Zipoli who divided them in three sections: 1. the poetics of the landscapes; 2. life and its contradictions (black and white); and 3. an on-the-road dialogue between a Persian and an Italian artist (colour).
The selection was advertised online. Shortly an impressive 3,720 pictures were sent to Prof Zipoli. “I spent months to view and select these pictures. With those left, one may set four or five exhibitions more. Working with Kiarostami was great.
His ideas are original, innovative and poetic at the same time. He is a unique person and a complete artist who is able to fully express his Persian-ess and penetrate our souls. He is the living proof that the soul of Iran is very close to us.”
Meditation, bliss and landscapes. But also social critique and strong statements. Let’s have a look at “Murales” by Saide Abkari, where two hands straight from Hell embrace a building. “The awaiting” by Majid Kurang Beheshti where two women are portrayed half-concealed behind a rabbit cage. And then there is the most moving picture of the exhibition: “Maternal love during earthquake” which portrays a mother and a child embraced under the ruins of a destroyed building. The soft green of the woman’s dress and the pale red of her child’s clothes transmit a bliss which goes far beyond the image of death.
Along with Kiarostami’s haikus one of the most suggestive messages is the choice to print the names of the Iranian artists in both Persian and Roman scripts, so as to pay the due respect to cultures and the bridges which unite them.
The youngest Iranian artist is just 21 years old, Mohammad Reza Mirzai, and holds a degree in graphics and design from the Shahid Beheshti University of Tehran. His contribute to the exhibition is the picture “Life”.
Mr Mirzai, could you please explain us the meaning of your work? The picture has been selected from a series of photographs called “Humans”. I placed the camera far from the crowd and started shooting pictures of people walking on the horizon. They just walk, talk, sit together, cycle and then leave.
Are you working on a new exhibition? Yes I am. I’m after some new projects in Iran and Turkey, while the next year I’m planning to work in Iran only.
Could you please tell us more about your “stopping-the-time” technique? What is photography fro you? I remember one day Michael Kenna, a well-known photographer, wrote me that taking pictures is a wonderful way to explore the world. I love this concept. So I’m just trying to see and explore at my very best. I’m so fond of photography as a way of life, as a way to experience new things.
Now it’s time to leave. Let’s give the word to Kiarostami:
“The snow melts fast and so the footprints – whether big or small – of the passerby.”
“I don’t feel envious at all when I linger on looking at the wind which blows on the poplars.”
The exhibition will be open to the public until Sunday 14 October, Mon-Fri 15-19. Sat and Sun: 10-13 and 15-19.
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