Iranian Painting, Calligraphy, Carpet exhibition and interactive sessions at AMU
Aligarh : Collections of over 100 paintings depicting rich Iranian cultural history, artistically stylised calligraphy and hand knotted rugs and carpets were recently on view at the Moinuddin Ahmad Art Gallery, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in the ‘Exhibition of Iranian Painting, Calligraphy and Carpet Weaving’ of the Institute of Persian Research in a day long programme which also included interaction and discussion sessions with Iranian women writers, artists and calligraphers and the visiting Iranian delegation at the Institute of Persian Research and the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies respectively.
“These art pieces deeply rooted in the classical and contemporary Iranian culture highlights the country’s rich cultural production in an aesthetically compelling rare treat”, remarked the Exhibition Chief Guest, Dr Ali Rabbani (Cultural Counselor, Islamic Republic of Iran).
Dr Rabbani later also attended the interaction and discussion sessions at the Institute of Persian Research and the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies as the Guest-of-Honour.
Inaugurating the exhibition at the Moinuddin Ahmad Art Gallery, Dr Hameeda Tariq (well-known pediatrician) pointed out that the exhibit features a plethora of fascinating art pieces that many people might not have encountered before in any depth.
“A painstaking attention to detail and ornamentation is apparent in the art collection in this exhibition which displays works representing various periods of Persian history and the present day Iran”, said Prof Badar Jahan (Coordinator, Moinuddin Ahmad Art Gallery).
Iranian artist, Fatemeh Zarei and calligrapher, Anita Ashrafi explained the communicative and aesthetic purpose of the paintings, calligraphy and carpets on display in the exhibition.
Later at the interaction and discussion session with the Iranian women writers, artists and calligraphers at the Institute of Persian Research; the Chief Guest, Prof Zakia Siddiqui (Former Principal, Women’s College) and Dr Khadija Karimi (Director General and President of Women and Family Affairs, Iran) talked about how women entered the canon of modernism in Iranian art with the same vigour as men.
Presiding over the session, Dr Hameeda Tariq emphasised how Iranian women have been actively contributing to the nation’s arts and culture for thousands of years in various art forms.
Prof Mohd Usman Ghani (Director, Institute of Persian Research) talked about centuries old India-Iran relations and discussed different social, political and economic aspects in the lives and works of Iranian women artists and writers.
In the interactive session with the Iranian delegation at the Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies; Prof Khadija Karimi, Prof Zehra Sadat Mir Hashemi and Dr Tauseef Fatima talked about the very high literacy rate of women in Iran and the various laws passed on women rights in the Iranian parliament.
Prof Azra Musavi (Director, Advanced Centre for Women’s Studies) extended the vote of thanks.