A comprehensive collection of illustrations is currently on view in an exhibition titled ‘Worksheet’ at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMOCA).
On its opening day on May 25, Majid Mollanoroozi, director of the Culture Ministry’s Visual Arts Bureau and head of the TMOCA, commended the event as “little attention has been paid to documentation and archiving visual arts and illustrations so far,” Mehr News Agency reported.
It is the first “research-based” exhibition, featuring a rich archive of 30 years of visual images from book illustrations to animation characterization between the period 1950 and 1979.
The collection investigates the effects of social, cultural and political movements in western countries on the Iranian youth’s visual culture, as expressed in the visual images during the period, before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, said Mollanoroozi.
“The exhibition provides a huge volume of information, which could be a useful source of research for enthusiasts in the field.”
Farshid Mesqali, an illustrator, said: “Archiving cultural and artistic works is important, which unfortunately has been ignored so far in the country. Such collections are a part of history that could be a useful guide for those who have newly entered the field of visual arts.”
In addition, “the collection provides historical information on specific subjects as provided by the artists and explores the cultural and social fabric of the time.”
Abbas Mash’hadizadeh, art teacher who was also present noted that it is important for youngsters to know the roots of present-day visual arts. “The show is a part of Iranian artists’ valuable efforts.”
Tribute to Late Artist
Veteran visual artists, including Ebrahim Haqiqi, Ali-Akbar Sadeqi, Gholamreza Nami, Farah Ossouli, Gizla Varga-Sinaei, Leili Golestan, Jasem Ghazbanpour along with others paid tributes to the late author, artist and illustrator, Parviz Kalantari (1931-2016) who passed away recently, by observing a minute’s silence.
Several generations of Iranians have seen Kalantari’s paintings and illustrations and his works are part of their visual memory.
The show will receive visitors until August 15 at the museum, located besides Laleh Park, North Kargar Avenue.
