Master painter Farshchian urges youth to embrace perseverance, Persian literature
Celebrated Iranian painter Mahmoud Farshchian called on the younger generation to "embrace hard work" and cherish Persian literature during a tribute event for the late master artist Isa Bahadori.
The comments came on Sunday, at a screening of ‘Mystery of Isa,’ a documentary directed by Abtin Shomeily, held at Documentary, Experimental & Animation Film Center (DEFC) of Iran, IRNA reported.
“I advise young people not to tire of persistence and exploration,” said Farshchian in a live phone call played during the gathering.
He encouraged students to stay connected with Iran’s literary heritage, adding, “Art has wide horizons; our ambition must match that breadth.”
Farshchian, best known for the painting ‘Ashura Evening,’ paid homage to Isa Bahadori, his mentor and the founder of the School of Fine Arts in Isfahan.
“No one in the history of Iranian art resembled Bahadori,” he said. “His vision was singular. His innovations in carpet design opened a new chapter.”
The event, held a day after Iran’s Teacher’s Day (May 2), drew a strong turnout from art students and faculty.
Organized in partnership with the Farshchian University of Islamic-Iranian Arts, it featured speeches by top cultural figures including Sajjad Mohammadyarzadeh, president of the university, and Abdolhossein Khosropanah, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution.
Khosropanah praised Bahadori’s legacy, noting that even Islamic-Christian dialogue found artistic form in his tile work. “We philosophers may talk for hours about religious unity, but Bahadori showed it through art,” he said.
‘Mystery of Isa,’ produced by Mohsen Tabatabaee-Pour, goes beyond biography. It reflects on the wider tradition of Persian visual arts and its spiritual lineage.
Director Mohammad Hamidi-Moqaddam said the film is part of a larger effort to “reclaim and honor national cultural icons.”
“Documentary cinema has the power to rediscover what society has overlooked,” said Hamidi-Moqaddam.
He described Farshchian as the “spiritual father” of the film and emphasized the importance of connecting with younger audiences through heritage storytelling.
Bahadori, who passed away in 1992, was a master of carpet design, metalwork, and miniature painting. His teaching lineage includes many who helped preserve Iran’s traditional crafts in the 20th century.
Farshchian’s remarks underscored the spiritual depth of Iranian art. Reflecting on ‘Ashura Evening,’ he said it was born in solitude, inspired by his mother’s suggestion to attend mourning ceremonies. “That painting is a bridge between heaven and earth,” said Khosropanah, calling it a “new creation” rich with wisdom and insight.