SOAS University of London | SOAS Centre for Iranian Studies’ book-talk; Rethinking Contemporary Art in Iran @soasuni | Uploaded April 2024 | Updated October 2024, 11 hours ago.
Rethinking the Contemporary Art of Iran, edited by Hamid Keshmirshekan, seeks to articulate an alternative narrative of Iranian art in recent times, diverging from the prevalent portrayals often found in publications derived from exhibitions or collections in Western Europe and North America.
Its aim is to embrace a diverse range of cultural expressions, each contributing to a vibrant mosaic that represents the multifaceted realities of the country – realities frequently overlooked in recent publications. It comprises essays that aim to provide multiple perspectives on contemporaneity, plurality and historical context, offering extensive insights into contemporary art practices both within Iran and among the diasporas.
The book also includes works by artists, accompanied by texts elaborating on their oeuvre and the pieces featured. This section is divided into three categories: “Societal and Cultural Resonance,” “Fantastical Visions,” and “Echoes of History,” each focusing on a specific artistic approach.
Image credit: Pooya Aryanpour, Gone with the Wind 2022.
About the speakers
Professor Hamid Dabashi is the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in the New York City. He has authored more than two dozen books, edited four, and contributed chapters to many others. He is also the author of over 100 essays, articles and book reviews on subjects ranging from Iranian and Islamic Studies, comparative literature, world cinema, and the philosophy of art (trans-aesthetics). His books and essays have been translated into many languages. Professor Dabashi will join the talk virtually.
Dr Venetia Porter was Senior Curator for Islamic and Contemporary Middle East art at the British Museum and is currently Honorary Research Fellow at the British Museum and the Courtauld Institute of Art. She curated several iconic exhibitions at the British Museum, and her research and publications cover topics ranging from Yemeni history and Arabic inscriptions to contemporary art. Her most recent publication is Artists making books: poetry to politics (2023).
Ghazaleh Avarzamani is an interdisciplinary artist whose large-scale sculptures and installations typically involve interactivity and play. She has presented exhibitions at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto Biennial, Dhaka Art Summit and Frieze Sculpture Park, London. Her works are held in collections including the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Rockefeller Center, Arsenal Contemporary, MOCA Toronto and TD Art Collection.
Dr Hamid Keshmirshekan is an art historian and Research Scholar at Columbia University. He was the Senior Scholar at the Khalili Research Centre, Oxford University; Associate Professor at the Advanced Research Institute of Art, Iranian Academy of Arts; and Associate Fellow in the History of Art Department, Oxford University.
Chair
Dr Seyed Ali Alavi, Co-Director, SOAS Centre for Iranian Studies.
Rethinking the Contemporary Art of Iran, edited by Hamid Keshmirshekan, seeks to articulate an alternative narrative of Iranian art in recent times, diverging from the prevalent portrayals often found in publications derived from exhibitions or collections in Western Europe and North America.
Its aim is to embrace a diverse range of cultural expressions, each contributing to a vibrant mosaic that represents the multifaceted realities of the country – realities frequently overlooked in recent publications. It comprises essays that aim to provide multiple perspectives on contemporaneity, plurality and historical context, offering extensive insights into contemporary art practices both within Iran and among the diasporas.
The book also includes works by artists, accompanied by texts elaborating on their oeuvre and the pieces featured. This section is divided into three categories: “Societal and Cultural Resonance,” “Fantastical Visions,” and “Echoes of History,” each focusing on a specific artistic approach.
Image credit: Pooya Aryanpour, Gone with the Wind 2022.
About the speakers
Professor Hamid Dabashi is the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in the New York City. He has authored more than two dozen books, edited four, and contributed chapters to many others. He is also the author of over 100 essays, articles and book reviews on subjects ranging from Iranian and Islamic Studies, comparative literature, world cinema, and the philosophy of art (trans-aesthetics). His books and essays have been translated into many languages. Professor Dabashi will join the talk virtually.
Dr Venetia Porter was Senior Curator for Islamic and Contemporary Middle East art at the British Museum and is currently Honorary Research Fellow at the British Museum and the Courtauld Institute of Art. She curated several iconic exhibitions at the British Museum, and her research and publications cover topics ranging from Yemeni history and Arabic inscriptions to contemporary art. Her most recent publication is Artists making books: poetry to politics (2023).
Ghazaleh Avarzamani is an interdisciplinary artist whose large-scale sculptures and installations typically involve interactivity and play. She has presented exhibitions at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto Biennial, Dhaka Art Summit and Frieze Sculpture Park, London. Her works are held in collections including the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Rockefeller Center, Arsenal Contemporary, MOCA Toronto and TD Art Collection.
Dr Hamid Keshmirshekan is an art historian and Research Scholar at Columbia University. He was the Senior Scholar at the Khalili Research Centre, Oxford University; Associate Professor at the Advanced Research Institute of Art, Iranian Academy of Arts; and Associate Fellow in the History of Art Department, Oxford University.
Chair
Dr Seyed Ali Alavi, Co-Director, SOAS Centre for Iranian Studies.
