Bani-Etemad’s APSA prize up for auction to benefit homeless women

March 7, 2015, 12:56 pm

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TEHRAN -- The jury grand prize that Iranian filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-Etemad won for “Tales” at the 8th Asia Pacific Screen Awards in 2014 will go on sale during an international auction to raise funds for homeless women.

 

The auction will be held by the Toloo Bi-neshanha Society, a Tehran-based charity institute that prepares food for homeless people, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Saturday.

 

No date has been set for the auction as yet.

 

All the money raised at the auction will be allocated to construction of a center to be named “Mehr House” for homeless women.

 

Bani-Etemad handed out the award to the representative of the society during a charity show at Tehran’s Eivan-e Shams Hall on Friday evening.

 

Celebrated director Nasser Taqvaii also attended the show, during which his “Blank Page” was screened in a fundraising effort for the Mehr House project.

 

Bani-Etemad previously said that in her will, she has asked her awards and memorabilia to be auctioned under the auspices of her children Tandis and Baran to provide a refuge for female victims of domestic abuse.   

 

Bani-Etemad won one of the two jury grand prizes at the 8th Asia Pacific Screen Award for her acclaimed social drama “Tales” in last December.

 

Earlier in September, she received the award for best screenplay at the 71st International Venice Film Festival for the movie.

 

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12 nations seek UNESCO’s approval for new Noruz file

March 7, 2015, 12:59 pm

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TEHRAN -- Twelve countries are seeking UNESCO’s approval to register a new file on Noruz, the ancient celebration of the Iranian New Year that begins on the first day of spring, on its List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

 

The final stage in preparing the file was done in Tehran at a four-day meeting, during which representatives of the countries reached a consensus on the file, the deputy director of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO), Mohammad-Hassan Talebian, said in a press release.

 

The file has been jointly prepared by 12 countries in which Noruz is celebrated annually.

 

The countries are Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Iraq.

 

Noruz was once registered on the UNESCO list as a common element from Iran, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan in 2009.

 

In a meeting held in Tehran in January 2014, the countries agreed to add more countries to the file.

 

Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Iraq were added to the new file as a result.

 

MMS/YAW

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Art news in brief

March 8, 2015, 1:58 pm

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“Hush… Girls Don’t Scream” to go on screen at Melbourne conference

TEHRAN - Iranian filmmaker Puran Derakhshandeh’s family drama “Hush… Girls Don’t Scream” will go on screen during the Conference on West and Central Asia, which will be held at the Faculty of Arts of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia from March 14 to 16. 

 

Derakhshandeh will also deliver a speech at the meeting, which will bring together a diverse range of distinguished experts.

 

 

Persian translation of “The Chocolate Soldier” republished 

TEHRAN – A Persian translation of Viennese composer Oscar Straus’s operetta “The Chocolate Soldier” has recently been republished by Rozaneh Company. 

 

Rendered into Persian by the late Iranian writer Simin Daneshvar, the book is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play “Arms and the Man”.

 

The Persian version was published with a preface by renowned writer Jalal Al-Ahmad, who was Daneshvar’s spouse.

 

Austrian university, Iranian institute sign MOU

TEHRAN - A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between Austria’s University of Innsbruck and Iran’s Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT). 

 

The MOU has been signed by Austrian Ambassador Friedrich Stift and RICHT Director Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti during a meeting in Tehran, RICHT announced in a press release on Sunday. 

 

Based on the MOU, the sides will collaborate in the fields of archaeological research projects and the preservation and restoration of historical sites. Meetings and workshops on cultural heritage will also be arranged by the University of Innsbruck and the RICHT. 

 

 

Hafez Nazeri’s “Untold” released in Iran 

TEHRAN – Hafez Nazeri’s new album “Untold”, which is an innovative synthesis of Middle Eastern and Western elements, has been released in Tehran.

 

The album was unveiled during a ceremony at Tehran’s Milad Tower on Saturday. Hafez with vocalist Shahram Nazeri, who is his father, attended the ceremony. 

 

Addressing the audience, Hafez lamented over imitations in recent works by Iranian musicians. 

 

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Antoin Sevruguin’s photos of Persepolis published in book

March 8, 2015, 2:07 pm

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TEHRAN -- The photos of Persepolis taken by Georgian photographer Antoin Sevruguin (1830-1933) during the 19th century have been published in book form in Iran.

 

The book entitled “Persepolis through the Eyes of Antoin Sevruguin” was compiled by Tahereh Eslami and Dorna Navidguii and published by Shiraz-based Iranian publisher Navid.

 

The book was published with the help of the Parsa and Pasargadae Research Foundation, the director of Navid Publishing, Dariush Navidguii, told the Persian service of IRNA on Saturday.

 

Sevruguin was an official photographer of the Qajar court. His commercial photography studio was one of the most successful in Tehran from the late 1870s to about 1934.

 

He also produced an impressive collection of photographs of Iranian historical and ancient sites.

 

His works were later published in several books, including “Sevruguin’s Iran” and “Sevruguin and the Persian Image: Photographs of Iran, 1870-1930”.

 

Several museums including the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, the Netherlands, hold some his works.

 

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Winners of Fajr Intl. Poetry Festival announced

March 8, 2015, 2:10 pm

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TEHRAN – Winners of the 9th Fajr International Poetry Festival were announced during a ceremony at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall on Saturday.

 

The book entitled “On the Silk Road” by the late Mohammad Ghahraman won the award in the Adult Section.

 

“The Encyclopedia of Persian Blank Verse” compiled by Hiva Masih was awarded in the About Poetry Section and Qodratollah Taheri received honorable mention for his work “The Secrecy of Lovers” in the section.

 

“Both the Newspaper and the Cookie” by Maryam Hashempur and “The False Grief” by Shahin Rahnama shared the award in the Children’s Section. 

 

Fazel Torkaman received an honorable mention for the book “My Billfold Is Hungry” in the section. 

 

The closing ceremony was attended by Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati, Deputy Culture Minister for Cultural Affairs Seyyed Abbas Salehi and a large number of literati. 

 

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Letter 31 of Nahj-ul-Balagha of Imam Ali (AS) published in Japanese

March 8, 2015, 2:12 pm

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TEHRAN – A Japanese translation of Letter 31 of the Nahj-ul-Balagha of Imam Ali (AS) has been published in a book in Iran.

 

The book was unveiled during a ceremony at the Nahj-ul-Balagha International Foundation in the city of Qom on Saturday.

 

The letter has been translated by a team of three Japanese translators led by Tosei Sano, a professor at the Faculty of Intercultural Communication of Ryukoku University in Kyoto, Japan.

 

Letter 31 contains the words written by Imam Ali, the first Imam of the Shia Muslims, to his first son Imam Hassan (AS). In the letter, Imam Ali (AS) advises him on how to lead a successful life.

 

The book, which was published by Nahj-ul-Balagha International Foundation, also carries Arabic and Persian versions of the letter, director of the foundation Ayatollah Jamaleddin Dinparvar said.

 

Also attending the ceremony, Tosei Sano said that his team plans to publish the translation in all Japanese newspapers to help establish a good relation between the people of Japan and the religion of Islam. 

 

He added that all the words by Imam Ali (AS), especially those in Letter 31, convey deep cultural and educational dimensions, all of which resonate extremely well with Japanese readers.

 

Nahj-ul-Balagha was first compiled by Sharif Radi known in Persian as Seyyed Razi, who divided the work into three sections containing the speeches, letters, and short sayings of Imam Ali (AS).

 

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Stage director Manijeh Mahamedi honored

March 8, 2015, 2:15 pm

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TEHRAN -- Manijeh Mahamedi, stage director, translator and university educator, was honored for her lifetime achievements during a ceremony held at Tehran’s Sangelaj Hall on Saturday.

 

A number of veteran theatrical figures including Behzad Farahani, Iraj Raad, Amir Dejakam and Afsaneh Bayegan attended the ceremony, Persian media reported on Sunday.

 

Organized by the private art institute, Maan Artistic Creation Center, the ceremony was followed by a short film on the activities of Mahamedi and the formation of her theater troupe named “Peyvand”.

 

A graduate of theater from the University of California, Berkeley, Mahamedi has directed several plays in Iran and the United Sates and has taught in different universities across the country.

 

Her husband Mohammad Eskandari, who has long cooperated with Mahamedi in her productions, made a brief speech in which he stated that he hoped for a brighter future for the theater of Iran.

 

Behzad Farahani next expressed hopes for a chance to play in one of Mahamedi’s works and said, “The women’s movement has developed in our country and over the past 10 years, I have read fine novels written by women and watched plays and films directed by women, all of which were much more powerful than those by men.”

 

Director of the Maan Artistic Creation Center, Shahin Chegini asked the Dramatic Arts Center and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to support theater troupes.

 

Voice messages from a number of theatrical and cinematic figures including Atila Pesyani, Reza Kianian, Hanieh Tavassoli, and Alireza Khamseh formed the closing program of the ceremony.

 

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Art news in brief

March 9, 2015, 1:14 pm

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Painting exhibit to raise funds for people with cancer

TEHRAN - Iranian painter Bahram Dabiri will showcase his latest collection in an exhibition at Seyhun Gallery No. 1 to raise funds for people with cancer. 

 

The exhibition will be held from March 13 to 15 at the galley located 11 on the 4th Alley off Vozara St. 

 

 

Iranian House of Cinema selects new director 

TEHRAN – Filmmaker Ebrahim Mokhtari was selected as the chairman of its board of directors on Monday.

 

Mohammad-Mehdi Asgarpur was the former chairman of the board of directors.

  

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Vocalist Shahram Nazeri honored in Albania

March 9, 2015, 1:17 pm

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TEHRAN- Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri was honored for his lifetime achievements in traditional Iranian music during a meeting in Berat, Albania on Saturday.

 

The meeting entitled “Cultural Boundaries and Traditional Music in Albania” was organized by Albania’s Margarita Tutulani Cultural Center and Iran’s cultural attaché’s office, the Islamic Cultural Relations Organization announced on Sunday.

 

Nazeri could not attend the meeting, which was attended by a number of officials, cultural figures and students.

 

A vast array of topics on Persian literature and traditional Iranian music were also discussed. 

 

Tirana’s Sadi Shirazi Cultural Foundation Abbas Azizi also delivered a speech about Eastern mysticism, poetry and music. 

 

The session was enhanced by the recitation of verses by iconic Persian Persian poets such as Hafez, Sadi and Rumi.

 

Nazeri received France’s Chevalier des Arts et Lettres medal for his lifetime achievements in Iranian traditional music in 2011. 

 

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No country immune to censorship of books: official

March 9, 2015, 1:18 pm

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TEHRAN -- MP Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, who is also the director of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature, has said that there is no country that does not engage in censorship of books.

 

Speaking at a meeting held by the Iran Public Libraries Foundation on Sunday to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the foundation, he added, “I agree with the view of the president (Hassan Rouhani) that people comment about every issue, but this doesn’t mean that, as a government, we do not have a responsibility about books.”

 

“There is no one in the world who would say that all the material found in books is always useful,” Haddad-Adel stated.

 

“We should apply rules rationally as to what may or may not be permitted in books,” he added.

 

“The censorship of books must be rational, not mechanical,” he stated.

 

Haddad-Adel lamented the high price of books and said, “It is hard for ordinary people to buy books, so the development of public libraries should be a priority, because as economic difficulties increase people drop books from their family budgets.”

 

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Japanese Iranologist Tsuneo Kuroyanagi commemorated in Tokyo

March 9, 2015, 1:26 pm

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TEHRAN – The late Japanese Iranologist Tsuneo Kuroyanagi, the founder of the Department of Persian Studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, has been commemorated during a ceremony held at the university.

 

Organized by Iran’s Cultural Attaché’s Office in Tokyo, the event was attended by Iran’s ambassador to Japan Reza Nazar-Ahari, scholars, students and family members of the late professor, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Monday.

 

Morio Fujii, Professor of history of literature and thought in Iran at the university expressed his thanks to the organizers of the ceremony and paid tribute to Kuroyanagi.

 

Kuroyanagi spent 40 years of his life to promote Persian language and literature and trained many students across the universities of Japan, he said.

 

Ambassador Nazar-Ahari praised the professor for his efforts and activities in boosting cultural ties between Iran and Japan.

 

He also added that books and Persian translations by the professor are due to be republished.

 

The ceremony was followed by the reading of a message from the director of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel.

 

Iran’s cultural attaché Hushang Ali-Madadai presented several gifts to the family members of the professor at the end of the ceremony.

 

Moreover, an exhibition of books, translations and handwritten documents by the professor in Persian was held on the sidelines of the program.

 

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Toronto Intl. Film Festival to review Iranian cinema

March 9, 2015, 1:21 pm

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TEHRAN -- Iranian cinema is being reviewed during a program by the organizers of the Toronto International Film Festival.

 

The month-long program entitled “I for Iran” opened at the cinematheque of the festival on March 5.

 

A lineup of Iranian movies will be screened and reviewed.

 

TIFF cinematheque is a world-renowned screening program devoted to the presentation, understanding and appreciation of international and Canadian cinema.

 

The program features retrospectives of acclaimed directors, national and regional spotlights, and experimental and avant-garde cinema.

 

Works by fourteen top Iranian filmmakers in addition to Iranian short films are scheduled to be introduced during the program. 

 

“The Cow”, Dariush Mehrjuii’s classic of the Iranian new wave, and “The Runner” and “Water, Wind, Dust” by Amir Naderi are among the films to go on screen.

 

Other highlights include “Where Is the Friend’s Home?”, “Close-up” and “The Traveler” by Abbas Kiarostami.

 

In addition, film critic Tina Hassannia will deliver a speech about Asghar Farhadi’s Academy Award-winning melodrama “A Separation”.

 

Critic Amir Soltani will also discuss Mehrjuii’s cult film “Hamun”.

 

RM/YAW

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‘You will never know the truth about Iran unless you have been there’

March 10, 2015, 11:38 am

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Marvin Hooft, 27, born and raised in the Netherlands. From September till November 2014 he has backpacked trough Iran with a close friend. 

 

“I have studied media psychology in the Netherlands and therefore I am conscious that things aren’t always as portrayed by the media. 

 

“Following this reasoning I was really curious as to what was really going on in Iran,” he said in an interview with the Tehran Times. 

 

So he started to read more and more reviews by previous travelers to Iran. He said that there were “almost unanimous really positive” so he got really excited and actually booked the trip with a friend. 

 

Enjoy learning about Iranian costumes like ‘taroov’

 

He said that the Iranians have such a strong culture. “It was really nice to encounter so much hospitality, curiosity and generosity to foreigners. 

“I specifically enjoyed learning Iranian customs like ‘taroov’ [ta’arof], which throughout the country everyone knows so well and is happy to explain and teach. 

“I suspect we merrily got a grip of the introductory principles. I am happy to have read about it before I got my first taxi in Tehran with the driver telling me ‘It was nothing’ after he brought me to the hotel. 

 

“And I was also shocked to get so much food and sweats from fellow bus travelers, something that would never happen in our country,” he said.

 

Nice Iranians who are fans of Dutch football! 
 

He said that he was surprised by the interest of Iranian men in Dutch football.

 

“A lot of times we were asked where we were from. And when we explained it was Holland many young guys just instantly replied with “Aaaa Arjan Robben!” or “Robin van Persie!” and when the man was older it was “Aaa Johan Cruijf!” or “Marco van Basten!” As proud Dutch guys we could really appreciate this knowledge,” he explained.

 

“Without exception the Iranian people were so nice to us. Everywhere we went people were very curious in such a nice and welcoming way. 

 

“In every new city people welcomed us with open arms and were happy to invite us, show us around, help us out or just make small talk,” he said.

 

He called the visiting of different peoples throughout the country as the best memories he had from his visit to Iran.

 

Iran: Wonderful memories

 

“Another good memory is of the traditional Iranian music and especially the singing taxi-driver in Shiraz who made our trip to Persepolis very pleasant,” he added.

 

He also mentioned their visit to Kashan during Muharram mourning season as one of good memory he has from his visit to Iran.

 

“Especially in the evening it looked really nice with all the white, red and green lights and everyone collectively dressed in black. The processions of men shouting ‘Ya Ali!’ and beating their heads and chests was really impressive,” he said. 

 

He said that despite people who were mourning, the atmosphere on the streets was really friendly. 

 

“Especially the last days when so many people stopped their cars and offered us free foods like ghormeh sabzi and delicious cookies. I felt really special to experience an event like this,” he said.

 

Must-see places of Iran: Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd and Kashan 

 

He named Isfahan, Shiraz and Yazd as must see cities of Iran.

 

“But if you are in a hurry Kashan is really nice because it has everything: mud bricked villages, beautiful mosques, gardens and the nearby desert. 

 

“I also liked Qeshm very much, it is a beautiful island with lots of fun things to do and explore,” he said. 

 

“I mostly enjoyed recreating with Iranian people. Relaxing and drinking tea or eating lunch, smoking qalyun [nargila] and playing takhteh [nard] in the park or teahouse,” he said.  

 

Cooking skills of Iranian mothers are something else!

 

“Oh my, I still miss the Iranian cuisine. It was really nice! I really appreciated the contrasting flavors that are used like eating anar [pomegranate] with salt and how doogh is made,” he explained. 

 

“I really would like to thank all of the Iranian mothers their cooking skills are really something else. I am still eating my fingers of after the ghormeh sabzi’s and keske bademjans I have tasted. And the beyani and fesejan in Esfahan were really nice too,” he added.  

 

A travel advice for those who want to travel Iran

 

“Don’t plan to strict. Let the Iranian people guide you through their cities and sights and don’t be afraid to drink tea or share a meal when someone invites you to, it is the best way to get to know this country,” he said.

 

“I have to admit I was a little anxious when I got off the plane in Tehran all alone. But as soon as I tried to change my money and the bank officer actually helped me to get better rates at another office I knew that there must be something special about this country.

 

“And after spending a few days or so you know that you will never know the truth about Iran unless you have been there,” he added.    

Art news in brief

March 10, 2015, 11:58 am

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Istanbul festival to screen Iranian movies

TEHRAN – Three Iranian films will be competing in the 34th Istanbul International Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held in the Turkish city from April 4 to 19. 
 

The films are Reza Mirkarimi’s social drama “Today”, Nima Javidi’s “Melbourne” and Jafar Panahi’s “Taxi”.

 

 

Museum of private bank showcases new collection in Tehran

TEHRAN – Bank Pasargad, a major private bank in Iran, showcased an art collection, which has recently been purchased from artists and collectors, in an exhibition at its museum on Monday.

 

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition at the Contemporary Visual Art Museum of Bank Pasargad. 

 

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Iranian, German experts to excavate “archeologists’ lost paradise”

March 10, 2015, 12:07 pm

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TEHRAN -- A team of Iranian and German archaeologists will head to Jiroft in southern Iran in the near future to excavate the 5000-year-old site, which is known as the “archeologists’ lost paradise.”

 

Preparing a map of the site, searching for new structures near the Halil-Rud River, and analysis of the outcome of the excavation will be high on the agenda for the excavation, the director of the Iranian team, Nader Alidadi, said in a press release on Monday.

 

He said that the excavation project, which will last five years, aims to study the cultural boundary of the Halil-Rud region, cultural relations between the Halil-Rud region and the Mesopotamian civilization over the prehistoric periods, particularly during the Bronze Age.

 

The team is composed of 16 members, including eight German archaeologists, who will be led by Professor Peter Pfälzner of the University of Tubingen.

 

Eight Iranian archaeologists will also collaborate in the excavation project.

 

The collaboration between the Iranian and German archaeologists is based on a memorandum of understanding, which was signed between the University of Tubingen and Iran’s Research Institute for Cultural Heritage and Tourism in late January.

 

The Jiroft civilization was discovered next to the Halil-Rud River in Kerman Province in 2002 when reports surfaced of extensive illegal excavations and plundering of priceless historical items in the area by locals.

 

Since 2002, five excavation seasons have been carried out at the Jiroft site under the supervision of Professor Yusef Majidzadeh, leading to the discovery of a ziggurat made of more than four million mud bricks dating back to about 2200 BC.

 

Many ancient ruins and interesting artifacts were excavated by archaeologists at the Jiroft ancient site.

 

After the numerous unique discoveries in the region, Majidzadeh declared Jiroft to be the cradle of art. Many scholars questioned the theory since no writings or architectural structures had yet been discovered at the site, but shortly afterwards his team discovered inscriptions at Konar Sandal Ziggurat, causing experts to reconsider their opinions about it.

 

The Konar Sandal inscriptions are older than the Inshushinak inscription, suggesting that the recently discovered inscriptions link Proto Elamite script, which first appeared in Susa about 2900 BC, with Old Elamite, which was used between about 2250 and 2220 BC.

 

Many Iranian and foreign experts see the findings in Jiroft as signs of a civilization as great as Sumer and ancient Mesopotamia. Majidzadeh believes that Jiroft is the ancient city of Aratta, which was described as a great civilization in a Sumerian clay inscription.

 

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Russian author of Iranian origin Fazil Iskander honored in Moscow

March 10, 2015, 12:12 pm

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TEHRAN – Russian author of Iranian origin Fazil Abdulovich Iskander was honored during a ceremony held at the Moscow Public Library on Monday.

 

Fazil Iskander is the most famous Abkhaz writer, renowned in the former Soviet Union for his vivid descriptions of Caucasian life, mostly written in Russian.

 

He is known in the English speaking world for “Sandro of Chegem”, a picaresque novel that recounts life in a fictional Abkhaz village from the early years of the 20th century.

 

The ceremony was arranged to celebrate the 86th birth anniversary of the author (March 6), and was attended by Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaii and a number of Russian and Abkhazian officials, the Persian service of IRNA reported on Tuesday.

 

Sanaii praised Iskander for his valuable works and called his Iranian roots a symbol of cultural cooperation between Iran and Russia.

 

Born on March 6, 1929 in Sokhumi, Abkhazia, Georgia, U.S.S.R., Iskander wrote in Russian and is best known for using humor and a digressive, anecdotal style in his often satirical portrayals of life in Soviet Abkhazia.

 

Iskander graduated from the Gorky Literary Institute in Moscow in 1954. Though he is known mostly for his prose works, he started his career as a poet, publishing six volumes of verse between 1957 and 1966. 

 

He has written various stories, most famously “Zashita Chika”, which stars a crafty and likable young boy named “Chik”.

 

Fazil Iskander was nominated for the 2013 Nobel Prize in literature.

 

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Poetic visual art pieces of Arash Shirinbab on display in Tehran

March 10, 2015, 12:08 pm

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TEHRAN – U.S.-based Iranian young artist and calligrapher Arash Shirinbab is displaying a collection of his recent poetic visual art pieces at the Gallery of Fine Arts of Tehran’s Sadabad Cultural Historical Complex.

 

Entitled “The Inspirations of the Desert”, the exhibit features a new painting style the artist calls poempainting.

 

“In this style, I use both the linguistic and aesthetic power of words. My inspirations usually begin with a poem whose essence and atmosphere illuminate my own world. Without writing out the entire poem, I extract its key words and paint or inscribe them in different styles of Arabic-Persian calligraphy in my own personal style,” Shirinbab told Tehran Times.

 

He further explained, “All of the artworks in this exhibition contain the Kufic style of calligraphy. However, for many of the visitors it is difficult to comprehend.

 

“This has two main reasons. First of all, not many people are familiar with Kufic style’s forms and alphabet. The second reason is behind the way I use Kufic and calligraphy. In some of my artworks, calligraphy becomes a structural foundation and the words become visual elements displaying a mysterious and multifaceted world.”

 

Shirinbab added that he has taken special private lessons of reading and inscribing traditional Kufic style with master Vahid Musavi Jazayeri.

 

He also said that his exhibition shows a gradual transition from traditional usage of Kufic calligraphy to modern, contemporary, and personal ones. 

 

The combination of calligraphy, painting and poetry in his works is intended as a dialogue between different art forms and people; something that reflects both his own Persian identity and contemporary, universally comprehensible artistic values.

 

The young artist further mentioned that two of his more traditional Kufic calligraphy works have been accepted in the 5th International Exhibition of Calligraphy and will be displayed in the Contemporary Museum of Calligraphy in Moscow, Russia in March.

 

“I have also been invited to conduct a master class on the sidelines on March 15,” he said. 

 

Shirinbab is a graduate of Industrial Design from the University of Tehran. He received an MBA in Design Strategy from California College of the Arts in 2012. 

 

He is co-founder and director of an art studio, Ziya Art Center in Berkeley and the National Society of Arabic Script Calligraphers in America (SASCA).

 

 

Shirinbab has gained the National Award of Extra Ordinary Talents in Arts and has been a member of the Iran National Elites Foundation since 2008. 

 

Shirinbab’s artworks are exhibited in over 60 exhibitions in galleries and museums around the world including the U.S., Spain, Italy, Poland, France, Russia, Canada and Iran. 

 

The exhibit, which opened on March 6, will be running until March 16.

 

RM/YAW

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Female directors make most popular movies of the year

March 10, 2015, 12:00 pm

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TEHRAN – “The City of Mice 2”, “Ceasefire 2”, and “Track 143”, three movies produced by Iranian directors, were on top of the list of Iran’s most popular films of the year.

 

 

The list was announced during a ceremony held by the Cinema Organization of Iran at Tehran’s Eivan-e Shams Hall on Monday to honor the directors of the movies.

 

Marzied Brumand’s “The City of Mice 2”, a puppet show movie in the children genre, stands high on the top of the chart. 

 

A sequel to her 1984 hit “The City of Mice”, the movie was warmly received by children, it also drew a large number of adult cinemagoers as well.

 

“Ceasefire 2” by Tamineh Milani was the second movie on the list.

  

“Ceasefire 2” is about the encounter of a young educated couple with their former family counselor after some years, during which the couple reviews their lives and some of the dramatic events that happened over the past years.

 

Narges Abyar’s acclaimed drama “Track 143” took the third place. 

 

The film, which was widely acclaimed at the 32nd Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran earlier in February 2013, is about the great maternal sacrifice during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war. 

 

MA/YAW

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‘You will never know the truth about Iran unless you have been there’

March 10, 2015, 11:38 am

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Marvin Hooft, 27, born and raised in the Netherlands. From September till November 2014 he has backpacked trough Iran with a close friend. 

 

“I have studied media psychology in the Netherlands and therefore I am conscious that things aren’t always as portrayed by the media. 

 

“Following this reasoning I was really curious as to what was really going on in Iran,” he said in an interview with the Tehran Times. 

 

So he started to read more and more reviews by previous travelers to Iran. He said that there were “almost unanimous really positive” so he got really excited and actually booked the trip with a friend. 

 

Enjoy learning about Iranian costumes like ‘taroov’

 

He said that the Iranians have such a strong culture. “It was really nice to encounter so much hospitality, curiosity and generosity to foreigners. 

“I specifically enjoyed learning Iranian customs like ‘taroov’ [ta’arof], which throughout the country everyone knows so well and is happy to explain and teach. 

“I suspect we merrily got a grip of the introductory principles. I am happy to have read about it before I got my first taxi in Tehran with the driver telling me ‘It was nothing’ after he brought me to the hotel. 

 

“And I was also shocked to get so much food and sweats from fellow bus travelers, something that would never happen in our country,” he said.

 

Nice Iranians who are fans of Dutch football! 
 

He said that he was surprised by the interest of Iranian men in Dutch football.

 

“A lot of times we were asked where we were from. And when we explained it was Holland many young guys just instantly replied with “Aaaa Arjan Robben!” or “Robin van Persie!” and when the man was older it was “Aaa Johan Cruijf!” or “Marco van Basten!” As proud Dutch guys we could really appreciate this knowledge,” he explained.

 

“Without exception the Iranian people were so nice to us. Everywhere we went people were very curious in such a nice and welcoming way. 

 

“In every new city people welcomed us with open arms and were happy to invite us, show us around, help us out or just make small talk,” he said.

 

He called the visiting of different peoples throughout the country as the best memories he had from his visit to Iran.

 

Iran: Wonderful memories

 

“Another good memory is of the traditional Iranian music and especially the singing taxi-driver in Shiraz who made our trip to Persepolis very pleasant,” he added.

 

He also mentioned their visit to Kashan during Muharram mourning season as one of good memory he has from his visit to Iran.

 

“Especially in the evening it looked really nice with all the white, red and green lights and everyone collectively dressed in black. The processions of men shouting ‘Ya Ali!’ and beating their heads and chests was really impressive,” he said. 

 

He said that despite people who were mourning, the atmosphere on the streets was really friendly. 

 

“Especially the last days when so many people stopped their cars and offered us free foods like ghormeh sabzi and delicious cookies. I felt really special to experience an event like this,” he said.

 

Must-see places of Iran: Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd and Kashan 

 

He named Isfahan, Shiraz and Yazd as must see cities of Iran.

 

“But if you are in a hurry Kashan is really nice because it has everything: mud bricked villages, beautiful mosques, gardens and the nearby desert. 

 

“I also liked Qeshm very much, it is a beautiful island with lots of fun things to do and explore,” he said. 

 

“I mostly enjoyed recreating with Iranian people. Relaxing and drinking tea or eating lunch, smoking qalyun [nargila] and playing takhteh [nard] in the park or teahouse,” he said.  

 

Cooking skills of Iranian mothers are something else!

 

“Oh my, I still miss the Iranian cuisine. It was really nice! I really appreciated the contrasting flavors that are used like eating anar [pomegranate] with salt and how doogh is made,” he explained. 

 

“I really would like to thank all of the Iranian mothers their cooking skills are really something else. I am still eating my fingers of after the ghormeh sabzi’s and keske bademjans I have tasted. And the beyani and fesejan in Esfahan were really nice too,” he added.  

 

A travel advice for those who want to travel Iran

 

“Don’t plan to strict. Let the Iranian people guide you through their cities and sights and don’t be afraid to drink tea or share a meal when someone invites you to, it is the best way to get to know this country,” he said.

 

“I have to admit I was a little anxious when I got off the plane in Tehran all alone. But as soon as I tried to change my money and the bank officer actually helped me to get better rates at another office I knew that there must be something special about this country.

 

“And after spending a few days or so you know that you will never know the truth about Iran unless you have been there,” he added.    

Art news in brief

March 10, 2015, 11:58 am

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Istanbul festival to screen Iranian movies

TEHRAN – Three Iranian films will be competing in the 34th Istanbul International Film Festival, which is scheduled to be held in the Turkish city from April 4 to 19. 
 

The films are Reza Mirkarimi’s social drama “Today”, Nima Javidi’s “Melbourne” and Jafar Panahi’s “Taxi”.

 

 

Museum of private bank showcases new collection in Tehran

TEHRAN – Bank Pasargad, a major private bank in Iran, showcased an art collection, which has recently been purchased from artists and collectors, in an exhibition at its museum on Monday.

 

Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition at the Contemporary Visual Art Museum of Bank Pasargad. 

 

MA/YAW

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