Prominent Iranian film director and photographer Abbas Kiarostami’s most comprehensive photography exhibition opened on January 12 in the Turkish capital Ankara.
His collection includes 43 photographs which represent “a silent film in itself,” Mehr News Agency quoted the artist as saying on the opening day, which was attended by the Turkish undersecretary of EU affairs, Rauf Engin Soysal, and Iranian Ambassador Alireza Bigdeli.
He noted that each photo could be the inspiration for his next film. “The timelessness of a film can be tested with the passage of time,” said Kiarostami.
He emphasized that photography is not as dependent on funding as filmmaking is and can progress by itself.
He also noted that pictures taken with “our smartphones to immortalize our personal moments in life should not be considered true and professional photography.”
Naming photojournalism as one of the most coveted professions, Kiarostami said: “Photography transforms a sudden event into something permanent. For example, the photo of the baby (Aylan Kurdi) washed ashore on a Turkish beach was named the most enduring photo last year.”
A single photo can be more important than hundreds of interviews and thousands of comments. That photo showed us the plight of migrants. The exhibition will be on view at CerModern Art Gallery through April 10.
Kiarostami, 75, is a celebrated film director, screenwriter, photographer and film producer. An active filmmaker since 1970, he has produced over 40 films, including shorts and documentaries.
He is also a poet, photographer, painter, illustrator, and graphic designer.
