ID :
103487
Sat, 01/30/2010 - 00:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/103487
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Berlin to hang Iranian teahouse paintings
TEHRAN, Jan. 29 (MNA) -- Veteran painter Mansur Vafaii plans to hang a collection of his teahouse paintings featuring epics from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh in Berlin.
Sponsored by Iran’s Ferdowsi Foundation, the collection will go on display during Noruz (beginning on March 21).
“A selection of 28 large paintings, each measuring 2 by 1 meters, will be put on show in a gallery in Berlin. The collection narrates different stories from Shahnameh to foreign visitors,” Vafaii said, “For example, one of the artworks tells the entire story of Rustm and Sohrab.” (The gallery’s name was not disclosed in the news.)
Vafaii stated that the series of works for the exhibit was created over the past six years. “I have tried to combine teahouse paintings with modern surrealism. The main theme of teahouse paintings is epic stories and these are usually accompanied by surrealism, making it a good thematic option for depicting epic stories.”
He later lamented that the teahouse painting has been neglected. “The art has faced a decline; nobody pursues studying Shahnameh and there is no financial support. Students should be encouraged to learn about this mode of artwork and become more familiar with the art and literature of the past.
“We need to encourage innovation in this art form, or else it will fade away. Our youth do not appreciate Iranian traditional art such as teahouse paintings, so we need to redefine and revitalize them,” he concluded.
Sponsored by Iran’s Ferdowsi Foundation, the collection will go on display during Noruz (beginning on March 21).
“A selection of 28 large paintings, each measuring 2 by 1 meters, will be put on show in a gallery in Berlin. The collection narrates different stories from Shahnameh to foreign visitors,” Vafaii said, “For example, one of the artworks tells the entire story of Rustm and Sohrab.” (The gallery’s name was not disclosed in the news.)
Vafaii stated that the series of works for the exhibit was created over the past six years. “I have tried to combine teahouse paintings with modern surrealism. The main theme of teahouse paintings is epic stories and these are usually accompanied by surrealism, making it a good thematic option for depicting epic stories.”
He later lamented that the teahouse painting has been neglected. “The art has faced a decline; nobody pursues studying Shahnameh and there is no financial support. Students should be encouraged to learn about this mode of artwork and become more familiar with the art and literature of the past.
“We need to encourage innovation in this art form, or else it will fade away. Our youth do not appreciate Iranian traditional art such as teahouse paintings, so we need to redefine and revitalize them,” he concluded.
