TEHRAN / DUBAI
MARCH / 2016
REMEMBERING TOMORROW
MAGIC OF PERSIA [MOP] FOUNDATION ‘ R e m e m b e r i n g To m o r r o w ’ E x h i b i t i o n a n d A u c t i o n / Te h r a n – D u b a i February – March 2016
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P ROGR A M ME
SUNDAY 13 MARCH 2016 6:00 pm : Exhibition Private View, Cocktail Reception 8:00 pm : Seated Dinner, Keynote speech HE Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan
10:00 pm : Auction conducted by Edward Rising Assisted by Anna Wallace-Thompson
11:30 pm : Carriages JAMM Art Gallery
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CHAIRL ADY’S MESSAGE
I would like to begin by praising the women behind Magic of Persia, who work tirelessly on our programmes each year to support innovation in the realms of Iranian contemporary artistic evolution and development. Our gratitude also extends to HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, a warm, welcoming and active supporter from day one. Every year around this time, I look back at the year gone by and how we have managed to overcome and grow with the challenges that face a charity of this nature. It becomes clear that what drives us is a distinct commitment to art and culture as a means of free expression and creative change within our societies. This commitment means that we cannot stop what we do: we cannot shirk the duties that Magic of Persia has taken upon itself in our efforts to help bring about understanding and change within the global cultural sweepstakes. It is with a great deal of dedication and persistence that Magic of Persia continues to meet our obligations and expand our reach and cultural territoriality. Magic of Persia is proud to have achieved so much in 2015 - 2016. I have also been dreaming of an event in our homeland for the past 12 years, and this year’s travelling exhibition (from Tehran to Dubai) ‘Remembering
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Tomorrow’ realises this dream. We have successfully carried through our fourth MOPCAP (Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize), our online CURATE ARCHIVE residencies, and the latest in our series of public programmes in conjunction with the British Museum, titled ‘Different Perspectives on Modern and Contemporary Iranian Art’ featuring the acclaimed artist Nicky Nodjoumi and Professor Hamid Dabashi. This year will also bring with it a solo exhibition and residency at the Delfina Foundation for our MOPCAP 2015 Winner, the continuation of our public programmes and of course, our continued global search for the world’s talented and emerging Iranian artists. We could not have achieved any of this without the generosity of all of the artists who have unconditionally donated their work to the Magic of Persia fundraising auction. We are also indebted to the help of our supporters’ individual contributions over the years making possible such dramatic change in the lives of these Iranian artists.
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ABOUT MOP FOUNDATION
Established in 2004, MOP Foundation promotes Iranian art and culture to a wider audience outside of Iran and strives to make a notable contribution to its long-term advancement worldwide. This is accomplished by establishing programmes in modern and contemporary Iranian art, music, media and academia in partnership with world-class institutions. MOP Foundation’s Art & Education programmes include: . A series of artists’ panel discussions entitled ‘Different Perspectives on Modern and Contemporary Iranian Art’ in collaboration with the British Museum . Art residencies for young Iranian artists at the Delfina Foundation . Curate Archive, an online residency . Publication Grants . MRes Scholarship in Curatorial Knowledge, Goldsmiths, University of London . The Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize (MOP CAP); a global search for the next generation of Iranian visual artists . The MOP CAP Artists’ Directory The charity’s primary source of funding derives from the auction of artwork generously donated by established and emerging Iranian and international artists. The success of these fundraising events relies entirely on the participation and support of artists and patrons alike. Sponsorship from organisations and individuals also supports MOP Foundation various projects. [ A NON-POLITICAL, NON-RELIGIOUS, UK/US REGISTERED CHARITY ] 8
BENEFICIARIES
MOP FOUNDATION’S ART & EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FUTURE CENTRE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS / ABU DHABI ILIA SCHOOL FOR AFGHAN REFUGEE CHILDREN / SHAHRE REY / TEHRAN SNOWFLAKES SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM / LONDON
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SPECIAL THANKS
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Shahnaz Bagherzadeh Ali Bakhtiar Farhad Bakhtiar Joobin Bekhrad Bastien Gonzalez Ehsan Hosseini Shirin Jourabi Hengameh Moameri Colin Morris Saeed Ravanbakhsh Edward Rising Anna Wallace-Thomson
]
Magic of Persia is especially indebted to HH Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan for his continuous support and ongoing generosity. Magic of Persia would like to acknowledge the tireless support of all the artists, collectors and galleries without whom this event would not be possible.
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Shahriar Ahmadi Rasoul Akbarlou Amirnaser Akhlaghi Pooya Aryanpour Maryam Ashouri Mohamad Bahabadi Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar Ladan Broujerdi Mohammad Bozorgi Alireza Chalipah Henry Dallal Karim Eskandari Darvish Fakhr Firouz Farman-Farmaian Khosrow Hassanzadeh Sahand Hesamiyan Shokoufeh Malekkiani Farbod Mmehr David Montalto Alireza Nekouei Shirin Neshat Nicky Nodjoumi Nasser Ovissi Leila Pazooki Taher Pourheidari Ali Akbar Sadeghi Hadieh Shafie Abo Shahi Navid Shahneshin Koorosh Shishegaran Newsha Tavakolian Behnaz Zangi Sepideh Zare 11
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SPONSORS
THE AUCTION LOTS
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Auction conducted by Edward Rising Assisted by Anna Wallace-Thompson TO PLACE AN ABSENTEE BID PLEASE CONTACT DARYA@MAGICOFPERSIA.COM
]
LOT 01
RASOUL AKBARLOU Untitled / 2014 Mixed media on canvas 125 x 125 cm Courtesy of Sophia Contemporary Gallery Rasoul Akbarlou (born 1985 in Khoy, Iranian Azerbaijan) received his BA in painting from Shahed University, followed by an M.A in the same field from Tehran University of Art. He received a Diploma from the Society of Calligraphy in Tehran. Akbarlou’s unique visual language incorporates Persian script into visually powerful compositions. Letters are broken up and rearranged in colour and space, harnessing the power of the alphabet to convey emotions through a stract shapes that emerge from the canvas, and connect with the viewer. He has participated in several group exhibitions in Tehran at Shirin Gallery, Imam Ali Museum, Homa Art Gallery and the Visual Art Festival for Young Artists, of which he was a winner in 2010. His solo exhibitions include Painting and Calligraphy Work at the Mah Art Gallery, and Atbin Art Gallery in Tehran.
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LOT 02
KARIM ESKANDARI The Door / 2014 Acrylic and oil on canvas 150 x 120 cm Courtesy of the artist
Karim Eskandari (born in 1983 in Shiraz, Iran) holds an MA in painting from Shahed University, Tehran and currently serves as a public relations manager of the graphic design department in Elmi Karbordi University, Neshabur. He has recently participated in several group exhibitions in Iran and solo exhibition at Shahed Gallery in Tehran and Kamalolmolk Galler y in Neyshabur. He is an accomplished mural painter and has designed several murals in Tehran, Kermanshah, Kashan Mashad and Neyshabur.
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LOT 03
NAVID SHAHNESHIN Untitled / 2014 Mixed media on canvas 70 x 100 cm Courtesy of the artist
Navid Shahneshin (born 1986, Isfahan, Iran) Obtained his BA in painting from the University of Art in Tehran and his diploma in graphic design from the school of Fine Arts in Isfahan. He has been a member of several painting and illustration societies in Iran, and his practice includes these two artforms as well as photography. His work presents a vibrant display of expression, with winged creatures and folkloric figures. He has recently exhibited in two solo shows at Takesh Art Gallery and Aknoon Art Gallery in Tehran.
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LOT 04
BEHNAZ ZANGI Untitled / 2015 100 x 120 cm Acrylic and mixed media Courtesy of the artist
Behnaz Zangi (born 1983 in Tehran, Iran), received her degree in painting from Tehran University in 2006. She followed this with a Master’s degree in painting from Alzahra University in 2015. She has participated in numerous festivals, including the Fadjr International Festival of Visual Arts and the Young Visual Arts Festival. Zangi also works in illustration for children’s books as well as wall murals.
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LOT 05
KOOROSH SHISHEGARAN Vase / 1997 Acrylic on cardboard 49 x 33.5 cm Courtesy of the artist
Koorosh Shishegaran (born 1944 in Qazvin, Iran) graduated from the Tehran Fine Art High School, before entering the Faculty of Decorative Arts where he received his BA in interior decoration in 1974. His oeuvre encompasses a wide range of experiments on different media and a range of approaches. Works before 1981 could be classified into different series, including Mass Production Works (1973-74), Appropriation of Works of Great Artists (1974-76), Postal Art (1976), Art+Art (1976-77), and two periods – in collaboration of his brothers, Behzad and Esmail – Art for Production (1977-78), and Political Social Posters (1978-81). Since 1983 he has concentrated more on painting and drawing with his familiar feature: Khat-Khaty (lines, doodles and scribbles). Throughout these years, aside from developing his painting style and participating in many group exhibitions, both inside and outside Iran, he has created other series of works, such as War Drawings (1990), Photographic Works (2006), and Self Portraits (2008). Shishegaran’s latest solo exhibitions have taken place in London (2012) and Tehran (2015). Group exhibitions have taken place at the Barbican Centre in London and the Beijing Biennial.
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LOT 06
ABO SHAHI Decalogue Series / 2015 Handwoven carpet 120 x 210 cm Edition of 1 Courtesy of the artist and Homa Gallery Abo Shahi (born 1974 in Kashan, Iran) received a BA in Graphic Design from Tehran Azad University of Art (2000), followed by an MS in Theology and Mysticism, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch (2012). Solo exhibitions include Mirrors and Candlestick (2014 ); Sovereign Carpets (2013), both at Homa Gallery, Tehran and Kashangeles, Manouchehri House, Kashan (2012); Herb Series, Homa Art Gallery, Tehran (2007) among others. Group exhibitions have taken place in Miami, Geneva, Zurich, Vienna, Dubai and Tehran.
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LOT 07
NASSER OVISSI Cyrus the Great / 2005 Oil on canvas 100 x 90 cm Courtesy of Farhad Bakhtiar
Nasser Ovissi (born 1934 in Tehran, Iran) is one of Iran’s most renowned and successful living contemporary artists. He is one of the few pre-Islamic Revolution artists who achieved success both prior and after the revolution. Studying Law and Political Sciences at the University of Tehran, Ovissi began his career in the diplomatic world as a cultural attachée in Rome and Madrid for the Iranian Embassy. During his stints as a diplomat, he worked hard to bridge the art world of Europe with Iran and created exchanges for ideas and creativity. He has studied art in Rome, and has sought to illuminate the rest of the world on Iran’s rich artistic culture and modern art. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 pushed Ovissi to become a full time artist and devote his time, energy and creativity to keeping the best aspects of his culture, his home land and his heritage alive. Although, Ovissi was not able to return to Iran to live, he was able to keep Iran and the Persian culture very much alive for those living abroad. He chose to make his new home in the USA.
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LOT 08
ALIREZA NEKOUEI Untitled / 2015 Acrylic on canvas 150 x 160 cm Courtesy of the artist Alireza Nekoui (born 1988 in Zahedan, Iran), received his BA and MA in Painting from the Azad Faculty of Art and Architecture. He is a member CIVA, the Society of Iranian Painters (SPI) and his solo exhibition, Chaos, took place at Mohsen Gallery in 2014. Group exhibitions include Agoraphobia, Tarahan-e-Azad art gallery (2015), Summer Group Exhibition, Etemad Gallery (2014) and Hundred Art Works Hundred Artists, Golestan Gallery (2014), among others. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Finalist at the Pars online festival, and at the Fajr Festival, Veis Festival, Eighth LICC Festival in London and Eigth New Generation Festival (all in 2015).
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LOT 09
DARVISH FAKHR Roya / 2015 Oil on canvas Diameter 100 cm Courtesy of the artist
Darvish Fakhr (born 1969 in Newfoundland, Canada) was raised in the USA, where he received his BFA from the Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston (1994) before moving to London, where he received his MFA in Painting from the Slade School of Fine Art (1997), studying with Paula Rego and Euan Uglow. After receiving The Travel Award in 2004 from the National Portrait Gallery, Fakhr went to Iran and painted portraits of Iranians. The majority of his work has been concerned with depicting the essence of the Iranian people – his work is about seeking out a sense of inter-connectedness, or as he puts it, the “sameness” of the human spirit, regardless of race, religion or time. He paints figures in a fluid, loose manner using traditional methods of oil painting technique. Fakhr was commissioned to paint the contemporary dancer Akram Khan in 2008. His nine piece panel now forms part of the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London. His work has been shown internationally, most recently at the 2015 Armory Show in New York and Edge of Arabia’s Palimpsest (2014) and various solo and group shows at galleries in Tehran, Edinburgh, London, Bristol, Brighton and the US.
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LOT 10
POOYA ARYANPOUR Transient / 2015 Acrylic on canvas Diameter 170 cm Courtesy of the artist Pooya Aryanpour (born 1971 in Tehran, Iran) received his diploma from the Plastic Arts School, Tehran, in 1993, and went on to study at Azad University in Tehran where he graduated with a BA and MA in painting in 1997 and 1999. He has held seven solo exhibitions to date at Aun Gallery, Tehran, 2009; Niavaran Cultural Center, Tehran, 2007; Cerindipity Gallery, Stockholm, 2004; Golestan Gallery, Tehran, 2003; and Barg Gallery, Tehran, 1994, 1997, and 2000. Aryanpour has also participated in numerous group exhibitions in Iran, Turkey, Kuwait, UAE, China, Switzerland, France, UK and US. Aryanpour first started painting ‘as a means of escaping the mundane academic atmosphere of the educational system.’ His work is defined by the use of abstract forms inspired by the rhythmic fluidity of calligraphy, executed in opaque and translucent white and set against darker shades of red and black. His more recent work explores the rotation of fluid circular forms which taper off into sharp edged points, what the artists describes as “cutting objects”.
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L O T 11 DAVID MONTALTO Gstaad Polo Gold Cup Tournament / 2000 Paper decoupage cut out, watercolour and pencil 50 x 70 cm Courtesy of the artist David Montalto (born 1934, England) is a renowned artist, whose work has been exhibited internationally, with pieces in some of the most admired public and private collections around the world, including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal households of Great Britain, Norway, Brunei and Oman. His work includes the design of high end, unique luxury masterpieces such as the world’s most expensive pen with a solid Baccarat crystal box, and he has collaborated with jewellers Harry Winston and master watchmaker Michel Parmigiani. His decoupage series present a playful glimpse of life in Gstaad. Montalto has lectured at some of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions and societies, including Sotheby’s and Christies Fine Art Courses and the Royal Society of Physicians. Here, the work is framed from wood taken from a 16th century Swiss chalet, and Montalto uses his nom de plum, Horsterberg, which, in German, means ‘high mountain’, or ‘montalto’.
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LOT 12
NICKY NODJOUMI The Newcomer / 2011 Oil on canvas 152.4 x 132 cm Courtesy of the artist Brooklyn-based artist Nicky Nodjoumi (born 1942 in Kermanshah, Iran), earned a BA from Tehran University of Fine Arts before relocating to the USA in the late 1960s. There, he received his MA in Fine Arts from The City College of New York in 1974. Returning to Tehran to join the faculty of his alma mater, Nodjoumi joined his politically galvanised students in their criticism of the Shah’s regime, designing political posters inspired by the revolutionary spirit sweeping the country, only to be exiled once more in the aftermath of the revolution. This political engagement has continued to the present day. His nuanced figurative paintings engage in political discourse with a light, satirical touch, layering his personal heritage and experiences in Iran and the USA into scenes that resonate beyond specific historical contexts or geographical boundaries. Nodjoumi’s works are conceived of as theatrical stages, where compositions of figures both serious and ridiculous allude to collective experiences underpinned by socio-political struggles. Nodjoumi's works are in several prominent institutional collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and the British Museum (London). Nodjoumi is represented by Taymour Grahne Gallery in New York.
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LOT 13
MOHAMAD BAHABADI Where Deep Red Belongs / 2014 Iron, wood, paper and glass 117 x 89 cm Courtesy of the artist
Mohamad Bahabadi (born 1972 in Behabad, Iran) hails from a town that lies at the junction of Yaz, Kerman and Khorasan. His name draws on the geography of the region, an area next to the Lott Desert. He went to school in Yazd, before studying at the Isfahan University of Painting in 1991. This was followed by the Tehran University of Art, where he sought to study handicrafts, before moving to the University of Tehran, where he graduated in the field of sculpture. Recent exhibitions include Justice Deadend (2015), A Properly Placed Shell and Walls To Be Seen (both 2014) at Aun Gallery, Tehran.
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LOT 14
MOHAMAD BAHABADI Justice Dead End / 2014 Mixed media, glass, bronze and money 76.5 x 83.5 cm Edition of 1 Courtesy of the artist Mohamad Bahabadi (born 1972 in Behabad, Iran) hails from a town that lies at the junction of Yaz, Kerman and Khorasan. His name draws on the geography of the region, an area next to the Lott Desert. He went to school in Yazd, before studying at the Isfahan University of Painting in 1991. This was followed by the Tehran University of Art, where he sought to study handicrafts, before moving to the University of Tehran, where he graduated in the field of sculpture. Recent exhibitions include Justice Deadend (2015), A Properly Placed Shell and Walls To Be Seen (both 2014) at Aun Gallery, Tehran.
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LOT 16
TAHER POURHEIDARI On The Broken Tile / 2015 From the Present Perfect Series Oil on canvas 125 x 150 cm Courtesy of the artist
Taher Pourheidari (born 1984, in Rafsanjan, Iran), lives and works in Tehran. His urban portraits describe a type of locality filled with memories. He often portrays abandoned courtyards steeped in a life once lived, also houses lost in memories. He believes that the primary life experience of a human takes place inside the architectural elements that have become parts of our collective memory; in other words, they are tied to our identity. Tehran, as the city he lives in, is formed by these forgotten separated fragments, which can be found in every corner of the city. In Pourheidari’s view these old parts are full of life and vitality – far more energetic than the rest, even if they sometimes feel desolate.
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L O T 17
LEILA PAZOOKI Pixel Diary / 2012 C-print 150 x 225 cm AP Courtesy of the artist Leila Pazooki (born in 1977, Iran) studied painting at the National Art Academy in Tehran following the Islamic Revolution, and continued her education at The Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. After a stint in Mexico, Pazooki currently resides in Berlin, where she is pursing a Master’s Degree at the Berlin University of Arts. Pazooki’s work is primarily an inquiry into the concept of borders, and the manner in which information, language, visual vernacular, and cultural associations are contorted, and conflated, as they cross physical and imaged boundaries. Borders establish limitations that her work—often consisting of layered ‘forbidden’ images manipulated to veil their illicit content— bring to question the notion and validity of acceptability. As such, Pazooki’s multilayered works serve to dissolve the distinction between what is tolerable and what is taboo, and her works can be read as visual material aiding in the fight against the hegemony of borders that stratify the world by way of political and canonical prejudices. Leila Pazooki exhibits internationally. Most recently, her work appeared in Identity and Art at the Ucity Museum of GAFA, China.
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LOT 18
Sahand Hesamiyan Untitled / 2009 Steel and paint 32 x 32 x 32 cm Edition 2 of 3 Courtesy of the artist Sahand Hesamiyan (born 1977 in Tehran, Iran) graduated from Tehran University with a BFA in Sculpture in 2007. He has exhibited in a number of group shows in Iran, the UK, USA, Italy, Mexico and Saudi Arabia since 1999. Solo exhibitions include those held at Ave Gallery and Aun Gallery (both Tehran) and a Project Space presentation at The Third Line, Dubai. He has also participated in six biennials and symposia in Tehran from 2005 to 2014, including the First Sculpture Biennial for Urban Space in Tehran (2008). Hesamiyan won the first prize at the Padide International Symposium of Contemporary Iranian Sculpture (2014), was a finalist for the Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize (2009), the winner of the Municipality Prize of the forth Contemporary Iranian Sculpture Biennial, and has received awards for the First Tehran Steel Sculpture Symposium, First Tehran International Sculpture Symposium and the Fajr e Noor Exhibition. His works are included in the collection of Delfina Entrecanales, The Samawi Collection and MAC Collection and numerous private collections. He currently lives and works in Tehran.
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LOT 19
NEWSHA TAVAKOLIAN NO TITLE / 2015 Epson fine art paper, Inkjet print 75 x 100 cm Edition 1 of 7 / 2AP Courtesy of the artist Newsha Tavakolian (born 1981 in Tehran, Iran) is a self-taught photographer. She began working professionally for the Iranian press at the age of 16 at a women’s daily newspaper called Zan. At the age of 18, she was the youngest photographer to cover the 1999 student uprising, which was a turning point for the country’s blossoming reformist movement and for Newsha personally as a photojournalist; a year later she joined the New York-based agency Polaris Images. In 2002 she started working internationally, covering the war in Iraq for several months. She has since covered regional conflicts and natural disasters and has made social documentaries in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen. Her work has been published in international magazines and newspapers such as Time Magazine, Newsweek, Stern, Le Figaro, Colors, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, NRC Handelsblad and The New York Times Magazine.
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LOT 20
KHOSROW HASSANZADEH Pahlavan / 2010 Study for Dome Silk screen gold leaf on paper 220 x 120 cm Courtesy of the artist Khosrow Hassanzadeh (born 1963 in Tehran, Iran) hails from an Azerbaijani family and he studied painting at Mojtama-eHonar University (1989–91) and Persian Literature at Azad University (1995–99), both in Tehran, and has worked both as an actor and visual artist, using painting, silkscreen and mixed media in his oeuvre. His works combine a deep-seated interest in the aesthetic power of Iranian cultural imagery with the use of media and techniques inspired by the Western pop-art tradition. Whilst in the latter context, the techniques of pop-art were used to emphasise a shift towards the age of mass consumer production, Hassanzadeh uses the same framework to highlight the mass presence of cultural and religious imagery in the urban landscape of Iran. His works often deal with issues that are considered sensitive in Iranian society and he first gained international recognition with War (1998), a grim and trenchant diary of his own experiences as a volunteer soldier during the Iran-Iraq war (1980–88). Hassanzadeh has had solo shows in Amsterdam, Beirut, Dubai, London, Phnom Penh, and Tehran, among others. His work is held by the British Museum, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, the World Bank and the Tropenmuseum.
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LOT 21
LADAN BROUJERDI Speaking Tree / 2015 Watercolour and gouache on cardboard 120 x 75 cm Courtesy of the artist and Homa Gallery Ladan Broujerdi (born 1971 in Shemiran, Iran), received her BA in Painting from Alzahra University, Tehran in 1996. She makes use of popular songs and combines them with familiar elements of the past. However, she does not emphasise contradictions; rather, her works seek to show that modernity does not ruin tradition. If Warhol is appreciated for his iconic use of Coca Cola, Campbell’s soup and Brillo, Broujerdi exploits brands with heavy designs and rejects their ornamental use. She began traditional Indian painting in 1986. Then, during a stay in Australia, Broujerdi fell in love with Australian Aboriginal art. Upon her return to Iran, she found lacquered paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries. These varied cultural and stylistic influences give her work its unique hybrid quality, yet her obsession with history is neither ironic nor nostalgic. She does not mock the artificial happiness and kitsch elements of Iranian painting nor does she praise them. Recent solo exhibitions include Siege the Trees (2015) and Dettournement (2014), both at Homa Gallery, Iran. She has exhibited in group shows in London, Miami, Vienna, Basel, Tehran and Dubai.
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LOT 22
FIROUZ FARMAN-FARMAIAN Summer at the Caspian Part III / 2014 Mixed media, super 8mm print on photo grade satin paper 70 x 100 cm Limited edition print 2 of 3 Courtesy of the Artist
History and memory inform the work of Firouz Farman-Farmaian (born 1973 in Tehran, Iran), whose lifetime of living in exile in Paris, France has profoundly influenced both his creative practice and individual character. “It is circumstance that ultimately shapes lives,” says the artist, whose work seeks to actively engage in a dialogue with the past. As such, his compositions possess a vivacious and spontaneous energy, as well as a deeply symbolic quality, which speaks to a multiplicity of currents in politics, art and philosophy. Rooted in Persian lore, and focused on themes of nature, architectonics and the interplay between realism and abstraction, Farman-Farmaian’s diverse body of work is united by common motifs of movement and texture. The raw and visceral emotion of his pieces is tempered by their material properties, which are strongly rooted in a resolute emphasis on craftsmanship. These in turn are deftly combined to create a unique visual rhythm across a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, film and music. Recent exhibitions include Retro Projection at the Musée de Marrakech the Persian Colors Group Exhibit at Shirin Gallery NY and (both 2016). The artist lives and works between Tarifa, Spain and Paris, France. 57
LOT 23 SHOKOUFEH MALEKKIANI When I Saw the Light / 2016 Archival pigment print on hehnemuhle monet canvas 100 x 150 cm Edition 2 of 4 Courtesy of the artist Shokoufeh Malekkiani (born 1977 in Tehran, Iran), is an award-winning Iranian photographer, lawyer, philanthropist and humanitarian activist who has dedicated her career to overcoming hunger, which she strongly believes is the root of numerous societal problems. She uses art and photography to draw attention to themes and issues of common concern that would otherwise go unnoticed. Her great determination has helped win many national and international awards and underscore her dedication to the underprivileged. In addition, her work was chosen to be included in the Oscars gift bag of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in 2011, and was dedicated to the UN World Food Programme. Malekkiani has been the recipient of notable awards, such as Second Rank at the Canadian Association for Photographic Art’s 2006 Annual Digital Competition, among prizes in the USA, UK and Belgium. Most recently, she was announced as a finalist for the Eighth Julia Margaret Cameron Award (2016), at The Worldwide Photography Gala Awards in Europe. Her work has been published in several international magazines and she was a spotlight artist in ARTisSpectrum magazine in New York, 2014. Malekkiani has been serving as the Honourable Artistic Consultant of the UN World Food Programme since 2009.
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LOT 24
HADIEH SHAFIE Dipped in Black / 2016 Ink, acrylic and paper with printed hand written Farsi text, Eshgh “Love, Passion“ 30.8 x 30.8 x 8.25 cm Courtesy of the artist and Leila Heller Gallery
Hadieh (Hedieh) Shafie (born 1969 in Tehran, Iran) has been included in a number of exhibitions in the USA and abroad including The Jameel Prize travelling exhibition first presented at The Victoria and Albert Museum, London before moving to the Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris), Casa Arabe (Madrid), the Cantor Arts Centre, Stanford University and the San Antonio Museum of Art, Texas (both USA). Shafie is also the recipient of awards from the MSAC Individual Artist Grant (2010 and 2008) and the Mary Sawyers Baker awards from the William G Baker Jr Memorial Fund (2009) and the Franz and Virginia Bader Fund (2010) and shortlisted for the Jameel Prize (2011). Shafie was also the recipient of the 2012 Space Program by The Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation. Shafie’s work is in a number of public collections which include, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Victoria and Albert Museum; The British Museum, The Farjam Collection, The Alfond Collection of Contemporary Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
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LOT 25
SHAHRIAR AHMADI Untitled / 2009 From "Rumi in my Chalice" Series Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas 150 x 100 cm Courtesy of the artist Shahriar Ahmadi (born 1979 in Kamiaran, Iran) received both his BA and MFA in Painting from the University of Art, Tehran. He began his artistic career through calligraphy, creating portraits with words. His oeuvre seeks to engage in a dialogue between history and the present, drawing on the literature, religion and history of his native country. Known for series such as Rumi in My Chalice, Ahmadi’s palette juxtaposes vivid hues with painterly consistency, allowing colours to interact freely within a controlled technique. Calligraphic influences are present in the form of loose scribbles pushed to the edges of each canvas. Working in acrylic, his paintings act as an extension of his imagination, filled with riddles and mystery. He is a member of the Iranian Society of Painters of Iran and a Kermanshahand Member of the Visual Arts Society of Iran. Ahmadi has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions in Iran, the Middle East, Europe, China and the USA.
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LOT 26
MOHAMMAD BOZORGI Sometime, Somewhere, Someone / 2015 Acrylic on canvas 150 x 210 cm Courtesy of the artist
Mohammad Bozorgi (born 1978 in Tehran, Iran), follows the aesthetic principles of Islamic art by mapping his compositions according to precise mathematical structures and symmetry, and never deviates from the meaning of words despite the innovation of his script. Bozorgi was originally educated as a biomedical engineer before entering the visual arts with a decade of training at the Society of Iranian Calligraphers, where he mastered a number of calligraphic forms. This robust background has inspired Bozorgi to use the directives of geometry to create abstract illusions of depth and space while developing stylised characters based on Arabic and Persian examples, Bozorgi builds on the breakthroughs of modern predecessors, as he seeks to advance the art of calligraphy through experimental formalism. Within his meticulously designed compositions, text multiplies as it is infused with energy and appears to move across the canvas or paper in unison, originating from and returning to the center like the cyclical rhythms of nature. Recent exhibitions include Ayyam Gallery, Dubai (2015); Ayyam Gallery, Jeddah (2014); Homa Gallery, Tehran (2014) and Galerie Nicolas Flamel, Paris (2013), among others. His works are housed in private and public collections, including the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia. 64
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LOT 27
SASSAN BEHNAM-BAKHTIAR Kashan / 2014 Luster photo paper 89 x 117 cm Edition 2 of 4 Courtesy of the artist
Sassan Behnam Bakhtiar (born 1984 in Paris, France) has been dubbed ‘the multitalented renaissance artist of his generation from Iran’ by the Huffington Post in 2014 and ‘a man on a mission to inform the world of the true nature of Iran’ by Harper’s Bazaar Art in 2015. Bakhtiar’s work is the carrier of an essential understanding that drives him to speak of his subjects based on their physical and mental individualism, as well as their trace in history. He considers himself a citizen of the world without boundaries, and is driven by his opinion of a truth can be communicated to the outside world via his signature artistic forms of expression. In doing so, he seeks to portray a different Iran to the one being seen through the lens of the media – a necessary alternative view. Bakhtiar has exhibited worldwide, including in Abu Dhabi, London, Los Angeles and New York. He is based in the South of France.
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LOT 28
SEPIDEH ZARE Untitled / 2014 Acrylic on canvas 100 x 120cm Courtesy of the artist Sepideh Zare (born 1991 in Shiraz, Iran) has been studying painting since 2006. In 2010 she began studying at the University of Isfahan, graduating 2014. Her work is figurative in nature, concerned with social and cultural issues to create an artistic discourse. By focusing on the nuances of cultural and social meanings and their context, Zare examines how roles in society can have both symbolic and semiotic aspects.
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LOT 29
HENRY DALLAL Omani Splendour / 2009 C-Print on aluminium 70 x 100 cm Courtesy of the artist
London-based photographer Henry Dallal (born 1955 in Tehran, Iran), was given his first camera, a box brownie, by his father at the age of nine, during an outing in the mountains of Iran. His mother taught him how to ride a horse when he was a child, and, as his interest in mountaineering and man’s companionship with horses developed, so too did his passion for photography. Combining this love of travel, adventure and the world of horses, Dallal journeys to remote areas to portray the splendour of rarely seen landscapes and to capture the beauty of unity between man and horse through his camera lens. His diverse subjects range from the nomadic tribes of the Turkaman Steppes to the Household Cavalry in Knightsbridge. He has self-published a number of coffee-table books and also contributed to numerous other publications, including Qatar: Sand, Sea and Sky. Dallal’s work has been exhibited worldwide and featured in publications internationally. He has been honoured with commissions to photograph Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and other senior world figures. A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and Alpine Club Member, he is also a board member of the Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) based in Dubai. 70
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LOT 30
FARBOD M. MEHR The White Giant with Coloured Chains / 2015 Digital print on canvas 66 x 66 cm Edition of 1 Courtesy of the Artist
Farbod M. Mehr (born 1991 in Tehran. Iran), is an emerging Iranian artist who graduated from the prestigious Central Saint Martins College, part of the University of London with first class honours in Architecture. Following the successful completion of his academic research, he began work in the field of graphic design. Not only had graphic design been one of his areas of interest since the age of 14, but his creative idea and expression of his artistic intelligence found a way out through his graphic designs and this field eventually became second nature to his daily life. He furthered his passion into a larger perspective in his professional career and established his very own fashion brand, TheBadShepherd. Mmehr’s artworks are a unique blend of his theoretical knowledge (architecture, geometry and graphic designs) amalgamated with mystical Persian culture as a reflection of his roots.
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LOT 31
MARYAM ASHOURI Untitled / 2014 Sewing, cloth, thread, woolen 150 x 150 cm Courtesy of the artist
Maryam Ashouri (born 1982 in Rasht, Iran), graduated from Gilan University with a BA in painting. She also studied painting at the Islamic Azad University of Tehran. Instead of a paintbrush, however, Ashouri uses needle and thread to dress our minds with new clothing. For her, colours can be untrustworthy, for their presentation on canvas can change according to the viewer, light, and other factors. The loose and tight warp and woof of the thread are placed together as if they are different individuals united for a purpose. With mathematical precision, creates new figures, making us probe what we thought we knew about the world around us. Recent solo exhibitions include Golestan Gallery (in 2015 and 2013), as well as Oo Gallery (2011). She has also exhibited in various group exhibitions throughout Iran.
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LOT 32
ALIREZA CHALIPAH Untitled / 2014 Mixed media on canvas 145 x 240 cm Courtesy of the artist Alireza Chalipa (born 1984 in Shiraz, Iran), received his BA in Painting from the Printing University of Tehran (2009). Before this, he completed an AA in Painting at the Soureh University of Tehran (2005). Recent solo exhibitions include Another Court (2013) and Identity (2012), both at Aun Gallery, Tehran. He has exhibited in various biennials and festivals, including the Eighth Biennial of Painting in Tehran (2011) and the Seven Montakhab e Nasle No in Tehran (2013), alongside gallery shows at venues such as Fotohi Gallery and Baran Gallery (both in Shiraz). He has worked as an illustrator and author and has had his work published throughout Iran.
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LOT 33
AMIRNASER AKHLAGHI Theatrical Series / 2014 Acrylic on Canvas 150 x 300 cm Courtesy of the artist & Homa Gallery
Amirnaser Akhlaghi (born 1988 in Tehran, Iran) creates works in a post-Pop context. His artistic practice deals with notions of Utopia, and the dissemination of equal values for all. Drawing on news and press images of Iran, faces and their associations and familiar relationships become de-familiarised in Akhlaghi’s work. By changing their familiar roles to metaphoric ones, they become independent entities, free of all preconceived notions and ideas. His work has appeared in group exhibitions including Summer Collection, Homa Art Gallery, Tehran; Persian Garden Party, Nicolas Flamel Gallery, Paris and Drawing Week 3, Homa Art Gallery, Tehran (all 2015). Solo exhibitions include Ending Point, Staring Then, at Homa Art Gallery as well as the 2015 Magic of Persia Auction in Dubai.
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LOT 34
ALI AKBAR SADEGHI Travel Piece 40 / 2015 Ink on paper 35.5 x 27.5 cm Courtesy of the artist and Shirin Gallery
Ali Akbar Sadeghi (born 1937 in Tehran, Iran) graduated from the College of Art, University of Tehran, and has been artistically active for the past six decades. As a child, Sadeghi has explained that he would get lost in the chanting of narrators giving accounts of the Shahnameh’s stories of heroic bravery. The lyrical, epic world of legends is an indispensable part of Sadeghi’s worldview. In his evocative paintings, Sadeghi draws on the rich traditions of Persian art but adds to them a surreal edge that involves dizzying spatial manipulations and startling combinations of real and fantastical objects, producing kaleidoscopes of colour and form. In 1991, Sadeghi was honoured for his outstanding achievements in filmmaking and book illustration, and his participation in more than 50 festivals of films and books. Aside from painting, he has made seven films and won more than 30 awards at International Film Festivals. His works can be found in the collections of institutions such as the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art and the Tate Modern. In 2009, Ali Akbar Sadeghi was recognised as an outstanding cultural figure and contributor to Iranian art and culture by the Ministry of Culture in Iran.
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TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. The sale of the Lots will result in contracts made between MOP Foundation and the buyer. 2. The Buyer shall be the person with the highest bid accepted by the auctioneer. 3. The auctioneer has the right to refuse any bid and to advance the bidding at his/her absolute discretion and in the case of error or dispute to put an item up for bidding again. 4. Statements by the charity MOP Foundation in the catalogue or made orally or in writing elsewhere, regarding the authorship, origin, date, age, size, medium, attribution, authenticity, provenance, condition or estimated selling price of any Lot are merely statements of opinion, and are not to be relied upon as statements of definitive fact. MOP Foundation is not responsible for the correctness of any such statement nor for any other errors of description or for any other faults or defects in any Lots. Catalogue illustrations are for guidance only. 5. Buyers are responsible for satisfying themselves concerning the condition of goods and the matters referred to in the catalogue description. The artworks in each Lot are sold in the condition they are in. MOP Foundation accepts no liability for the loss or damage of artworks after sale. 6. If a prospective buyer gives MOP Foundation instructions to bid on his/her behalf, by using the contact details provided in the catalogue, MOP Foundation shall use reasonable efforts to do so, provided these instructions are received no later than 24 hours before the sale. Bids should be placed in US dollars. If MOP Foundation receives commission bids on a particular Lot for identical amounts, and at auction these bids are the highest bids for the Lot, it will be sold to the person whose bid was received first. 7. Subject to the auctioneer’s discretion, the striking of the hammer marks the acceptance of the highest bid and the conclusion of a contract for sale between the charity and the buyer. 8. Following the sale, the buyer must provide the charity MOP Foundation with his or her name and all contact details. 9. All Lots are to be paid in full by 31st March 2016. Full payment can be made in cash, wire transfer, credit card or cheque, payable to the charity MOP Foundation. A surcharge of 3% will be charged on all MasterCard and Visa Credit card payments. 10. No Lot can be taken, unless it has first been paid in full. The Buyer will not acquire title to the Lot until all the amounts due to GCT have been paid in full. From the time of collection, the Lot will be entirely at the Buyers risk. 11. The purchased artworks will be available for collection upon receipt of the balance at your cost via Crown Fine Art. Please contact Gus VanGeijtenbeek, Regional Manager - Middle East, Crown Fine Art, DUTCO House, 3rd floor, Ittihad Road, Deira, Dubai, UAE. Direct line +971 4230 5336, www.crownfineart.com 12. All bids are expressed in US Dollars. 13. No exchange or refunds are available. 14. These conditions of sale are subject to English law, which shall apply to their construction as well as to their effect.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Shahriar Ahmadi Rasoul Akbarlou Amirnaser Akhlaghi Pooya Aryanpour Maryam Ashouri Shahnaz Bagherzadeh Mohamad Bahabadi Ali Bakhtiar Ali Bakhtiari Farhad Bakhtiar Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar Joobin Bekhrad Ladan Borujerdi Mohammad Bozorgi Alireza Chalipa Henry Dallal Karim Eskandari Darvish Fakhr Firouz Farman-farmaian Homa Gallery Sophia Contemporary Gallery Shirin Gallery Amir Ghaffarpour Bastien Gonzalez Khosrow Hassanzadeh Leila Heller Sahand Hesamiyan Kashya Hildebrand Ehsan Hossein Borna Izadpanah Alireza Jahangiri Lili Jassemi Shirin Jourabi Omid Khakbaz Rajesh Kumar Michael-Henry Krayem Hamed Majd Shokoufeh Malekkiani Lali Marganiya Farbod Mmehr
Hengameh Moameri Niavaran CafĂŠ Gallery Majid Molla Noroozi Media One Hotel Saghar Moayeri Daniel Montalto David Montalto Farzaneh Moosavi Colin Morris HH Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan Mehri Naseri Navand Advertising Agency Alireza Nekouei Shirin Neshat Shirin Neshat Nicky Nodjoumi Nasser Ovissi Parsonline Leila Pazooki Taher Pourheidari Saeed Ravanbakhsh Edward Rising Ali Akbar Sadeghi Ashkan Sadeghi Seyed Abbas Sajadi Hadieh Shafie Abo Shahi Navid Shahneshin Pooya Shishegaran Koorosh Shishegaran Ali Sobati Farrah Soltani Newsha Tavakolian Shirin Tavakolian Anna Wallace-Thompson Vassili Tsarenkov Behnaz Zangi Sepideh Zare Neda Zarfsaz
INDEX
Shahriar Ahmadi Rasoul Akbarlou Amirnaser Akhlaghi Pooya Aryanpour Maryam Ashouri Mohamad Bahabadi Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar Ladan Broujerdi Mohammad Bozorgi Alireza Chalipah Henry Dallal Karim Eskandari Darvish Fakhr Firouz Farman-Farmaian Khosrow Hassanzadeh Sahand Hesamiyan David Montalto Shokoufeh Malekkiani Farbod Mmehr Alireza Nekouei Shirin Neshat Nicky Nodjoumi Nasser Ovissi Leila Pazooki Taher Pourheidari Ali Akbar Sadeghi Abo Shahi Navid Shahneshin Hadieh Shafie Koorosh Shishegaran Newsha Tavakolian Behnaz Zangi Sepideh Zare
66 18 83 36 78 43 & 45 71 58 68 80 74 20 35 61 57 52 38 62 76 32 46 40 31 50 49 84 29 22 65 26 54 24 72
TRUSTEES Sara Ameri Shirley Elghanian Shirin Elghanian Asal Sobati Vajihe Soleymani COMMITTEE Shirley Elghanian I Chief Executive Darya Alikhani I Project Administrator Fereshte Moosavi I Art Director & Curator CATALOGUE DESIGN Saghar Moayeri BA Graphic and Media Design I Design for Advertising University of the Arts London www.sagharmoayeri.com Borna Izadpanah I Lettering
16A Lowndes Square, London, SW1X 9HB UK-registered charity no. 1104066 www.magicofpersia.com
MAGIC OF PERSIA FOUNATION WWW.MAGICOFPERSIA.COM
ISBN
978-0-9572007-7-7