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Int’l Fajr Music Festival’s poster, global harmony inspired by nightingale: Designer
The designer of the poster and statute for the International Fajr Music Festival revealed the inspiration behind the event’s iconic symbol, the nightingale.
Speaking to ILNA, Anoushiravan Mani, the designer of the poster and statute of the 40th International Fajr Music Festival, explained his creative process. He said, “The poster and statute for an international music festival should symbolize the art of music, and the first idea that comes to mind is to feature musical instruments, either individually or in a fusion of Iranian and foreign instruments,” according to ILNA.
Mani further elaborated on the challenges of this initial concept, stating, “The issue with this idea is that it’s impossible to include all instruments in a single design, and featuring one instrument over another could be seen as a slight to other instruments in Iranian music. So, I had to think of an alternative concept that drew inspiration from nature.”
He continued, “The sounds of rain, wind, rivers, and the sea are all musical elements of nature that are soothing and delightful. The nightingale, known for its beautiful and harmonious songs, is an innate gift from God, free from any discordant notes. It is a symbol of rhythm and natural harmony, and that’s why it became the central motif.”
Mani emphasized that the nightingale is not exclusive to Iran, saying, “The nightingale is primarily found in Asia and is particularly visible in Iran during springtime. Its sweet song has been celebrated in various literatures and poems. When the festival’s policy council proposed the nightingale as a symbol, I created a graphic design around it, using the broken nasta’liq script to write a beautiful poem by the renowned poet Hafez.
Discussing the importance of simplicity in festival poster and statute design, Mani said, “Internationally, the designs for festival posters and statutes are typically minimalistic, and I wanted to achieve a similar effect. I aimed for a sparse yet expressive design.”
When asked about incorporating cultural similarities between Iran and other countries into the poster design, Mani replied, “The nightingale is universally recognized as a symbol of sweet song, and its melodies are cherished by people everywhere. So, the nightingale is a familiar image. Moreover, Hafez is a global poet, known across Asia and Europe, adding an international dimension to the design while the script preserves the Iranian authenticity.”
The 40th International Fajr Music Festival will be held from February 11 to 17 in Tehran and various provinces across Iran. The festival is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic in collaboration with the Music Office, the Iran Music Association, and the Rudaki Foundation.