Shishegaran’s Book of Life, Works in English

A collection of works by veteran Iranian artist Koorosh Shishegaran has been published in English.

Titled ‘Koorosh Shishegaran: The Art of Altruism’, the book has been compiled by Hamid Keshmirshekan, a research associate at the London Middle East Institute, SOAS University of London, and a senior lecturer at the Advanced Research Institute of Art, Iranian Academy of the Arts.

A total of 300 illustrations in color related to Shishegaran’s five different periods of artistic career are included in this exquisite book, Honaronline reported.

The book also contains articles by Hamid Dabashi, Iranian-American professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York City, Abbas Daneshvari, professor of Art History at University of California, Los Angeles, David Galloway, an American novelist, curator, journalist and academic, and Alireza Sami-Azar, former head of Tehran’s Museum of Contemporary Art and current head of Tehran Auction.

In their articles, the four writers have explained Keshmirshekan’s artistic approach and attitude, the impact on Persian art and his role in introducing Iranian art to the world. 

Born in Qazvin, Shishegaran, 72, is considered one of the most expressive and emotive artists of the contemporary Iranian art scene.

He has established himself as an artist of great discipline, social awareness and manual skill, working in a wide array of different media, from graphic design to painting, photography and furniture design. 

Drawing inspiration from Iranian visual culture, Shishegaran is best known for his scribble line abstract paintings. These dynamic colorful lines have enabled the artist to find a style and language expressive of the modern era.

The book brings together the life and works of the artist for the first time, showcasing his various artistic phases and outlining his progressive approach to art creation and distribution.

Shishegaran has participated widely in solo and group exhibitions around the world, including Art Dubai (2015); Shirin Gallery, Tehran (2015); MAXXI, Rome (2015); Musée d Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (2014); Opera Gallery, London (2012); Beijing Biennial (2003); and Barbican Center, London (2001).

The 312-page book has been published by Saqi Books, an independent publishing house of general interest and academic books on North Africa and the Middle East in London.