Veteran Iranian painter Pariyoush Ganji was presented the badge and ribbon of the ‘Order of the Rising Sun’, known as ‘Kyokujitsu Chujyusho’, signed by Japanese Emperor Akihito, and an appreciation letter by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at a ceremony at the Japan Embassy in Tehran on January 14.
The order is awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, advancements in their field and development in welfare or preservation of the environment.
Ganji, 71, who lives in Tehran, was named for the Japanese award on November 3, 2015 for her artistic achievements.
‘The prestigious award was conferred on Ganji in appreciation of her achievements in creating everlasting works of art, combining the rich culture of Iran and Japan,” Honaronline quoted Hiroyasu Kobayashi, Japanese ambassador to Iran, as saying at the ceremony.
Eminent cultural and art personalities namely Mahmoud Dolatabadi, Pari Saberi, Nosratollah Moslemian, Omid Rouhani, Hamid Souri, Hamid Keshmir Shekan, Mojgan Valipour, Elaheh Javaheri, Mahmoudreza Bahmanpour and Pouya Arianpour, were present.
“Pariyoush Ganji acquainted numerous art students in Iranian universities with the cultural identity of Japan and Sumi-e, traditional painting style and Shuji, calligraphy art, of the country,” Kobayashi noted.
Some of her students were so influenced by her teachings that they decided to personally learn Japanese culture by travelling to Japan. “She played a prominent role in introducing contemporary Japanese art to Iranian enthusiasts, especially through her recent exhibitions held in both countries.”
Ganji, in response to the felicitations, said her acquaintance with Japanese culture started when she began her journey to the Japanese city of Kyoto through the Silk Road, to follow the traces of ancient Iranian art of the Sasanian Empire (the last Iranian empire (224 AD to 651 AD) before the rise of Islam) in the Japanese fabric design of its traditional garment, Kimono.
“There, by chance I got familiar with a Sumi-e art master and started learning the art,” Ganji added.
The former director of Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts, Alireza Sami Azar, said Ganji’s valuable contribution in introducing Iranian artists to Japanese art is commendable. Her exhibition on Japanese contemporary art held in 2005 at the museum, and a similar event in Tokyo played a significant role in her success. The two art events have so far been the most important projects in sharing experience between contemporary artists from the two sides.
Deep Influence
Ganji’s artistic identity, which is deeply influenced with Japanese culture, aesthetics and artistic approaches, is considerable.
Golfan and Hoshyar Khayyam, Ganji’s musician daughter and son, performed a piano and guitar duet, which was warmly welcomed by the attendees.
Ganji’s works have been exhibited in the international art arena. She finds inspiration in classical Persian art and culture in her artworks that carry the core classical content of Persian culture, yet in new ways. Her journey as an artist is a story of an individual, whose passion for life is the main reason of her creativeness.
