Artists to honor Abbas Kiarostami with group show in Tehran
A group exhibition featuring works by 161 Iranian visual artists from multiple generations will open at the Iranian Artists Forum in central Tehran to commemorate the late filmmaker and artist Abbas Kiarostami.
Curated by Arash Raisian, the show, titled ‘In Praise of Life’, brings together a wide range of media including painting, sculpture, photography, installation, digital art, and video works, ISNA reported.
The tribute coincides with the anniversary of Kiarostami’s death in July 2016 and aims to celebrate what organizers described as his “life-affirming vision.”
Public viewing begins Friday, August 8, and continues through Sunday, August 17, with daily visiting hours from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Kiarostami, who won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1997 for ‘Taste of Cherry,’ was widely regarded as one of Iran’s most influential cultural figures. While best known internationally for his films, he was also an accomplished poet and visual artist whose minimalist approach left a lasting imprint on contemporary art in Iran and abroad.
The exhibition title was inspired by Kiarostami’s own philosophy, Raisian said, pointing to his “profound attention to the ordinary and the poetic.” Works on display reflect that ethos, with many artists opting for subtle, conceptual interpretations rather than direct references to the director’s cinematic style.
Iranian Artists Forum, a major cultural hub in Tehran, has previously hosted several tributes to Kiarostami, but organizers noted this year’s event is the largest of its kind to date.