Unexposed: female artists and the contemporary Iranian art unveil in an exhibition, a two-day cinematic tribute and an open discussion

The non-profit organization Art Cantara presents the opening of the special exhibition UNEXPOSED on Tuesday 19th of February 2013 (19:00), at Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. The exhibition is going to host the unexposed creations of 40 young female artists that live in Iran. The exhibition is going to last till Sunday, 24th of March 2013.

The exhibition will be accompanied by an open conversation under the title Woman, Visual Arts & Cinema (in English/French language) between Dr. Asal Bagheri Grifatton (PhD in Linguistics and Semiology from Sorbonne, Paris Descartes University), Fery MalekMadani (Curator of the Exhibition, Art Historian) and Eleni Kypraiou (Art Critic, Curator). The conversation is going to take place on Friday, 8th of March 2013, at 19:00 (a Day dedicated to Women).

^{Hall: Cinema
Free Entrance. Seat Reservation: 210 3418759, Mon – Fri 11:00 – 14:00, bookings will take place in turn of priority.}

In addition, a two-day cinematic tribute will take place on Saturday, 9th of March 2013 and Sunday, 10th of March 2013. Nine films that are directed by Iranian women
and they have as main subject the position of the woman in Iran. Many
of these films are awarded at International Film Festivals and
Competitions. The subtitles of the films will be in English.

The Program

• Saturday 9th of March 2013

1st Screening
18:00 Introduction Presentation of the following film (30)
18:30 Iran unveiled and veiled again (13)
18:45 Presentation of the following film (10)
18:55 Tabous Zohreh & Manoutcher (66) [Adults Only]

20:00 Intermission 30

2nd Screening
20:30 Presentation of the following film (10)
20:40 Feminine (70)
21:50 Presentation of the following film (10)
22:00 Rough Cut (22)

• Sunday 10th of March 2013

1st Screening
15:00 Presentation of the following film (10)
15:10 The Code 61 (67)

16:17 Intermission 30

2nd Screening
16:50 Presentation of the following film (10)
17:00 The birthday (102) [Adults Only]

18:45 Intermission 30

3rd Screening
19:15 Presentation of the following film (10)
19:25 Αn angel on my shoulder (52)

20:20 Intermission 30

4th Screening
20:50 Presentation of the following film (10)
21:00 Virgin (52)

21:52 Intermission 10

5th Screening
22:00 Presentation of the following film (10)
22:10 We are half of the people (40)

^{Hall: Cinema
Tickets: 3 per screening, 2,5 (two screenings or more).}

The curator of the exhibition is Fery MalekMadani (art historian) and she selected 70 creations of young artists among 400 participants. The three basic criteria of the selection were: the
permanent residence of the artists in Iran, their birth date between
1971 and 1991 and the presence of -at least- one personal exhibition at
their curriculum vitae.

The selection had also taken into consideration the freedom of expression and the participating artists show their unique way of creating through their paintings, videos or installations and despite religious conservatism, inequalities in rights and anti-western culture.

The female artists use symbols and parables
as secret weapons against the censorship and this restriction allow
them to present in various topics, techniques and materials their quest for freedom of speech.

The curator of the exhibition, Fery MalekMadani (art historian) notes:

“The
Iranian female artists have had many chances to demonstrate their
opposition to the ideas that have been promoted by the Revolution, the
Islamic Ideology and the violation of their rights. We all agree that
the change in Iran will be brought by the women and the youth. Hence,
the idea of watching the creations of some of these women can make us
witness a potential change. The internationalization of the dispute
through art surpasses any prohibitions.

The 40 young Iranian female artists were chosen among 400 candidates whose creations were never exposed before. This also justifies the title of the exhibition: UNEXPOSED.

Personally,
I experienced tremendous and vivid moments with every single artist in
Teheran and its surroundings, regardless their background, and I
strongly believe that Iran while shine again through the black clouds.

The
exhibition gives to the young Iranian female artists the opportunity to
demonstrate their work in Brussels, Athens and Warsaw and convey their
messages.“

The exhibition UNEXPOSED has already been presented with great success in Brussels, in November 2012, it was prefaced by the Minister of the French Community of Belgium. It was organized by Art Cantara.

In Athens, the exhibition will be accompanied by parallel events (films, speeches, open conversations) and afterwards it will travel to Warsaw (April-May 2013).

^{Official Opening: Tuesday 19th of February 2013, at 19:00
Exhibitions Duration: 19th of February 24th of March 2013
Exhibition Area -1st & 2nd floor
Hours: Mon – Sun 18:00 – 22:00
Free Entrance}

Curator: Fery MalekMadani, Art Historian
Coordinator: Ε. & F. Kypreos
Organization: Art Cantara

—–

A brief chronicle:
Contemporary art in Iran by key-dates

First Period
1911: establishment
of School of Fine Arts by Kamal-ol-Molk, painter of the Royal Yard
-with studies in Europe- who introduced westernized topics and
tendencies, including Naturalism. The artists adopted new movements that
were born in the West and they turned their back at the traditional
Persian painting and miniatures.

Second Period
After the Second World War:
the School of Fine Arts in Teheran followed the artistic tendencies
that were promoted by the School of Fine Arts in Paris. Expressionism,
fauvism and abstract art were developed and the artists -that were
influenced by these artistic movements- are considered as the first
generation of modern artists in Iran.

During that period, the
first official opposition towards the westernization of Iranian Art made
its first appearance. A group of artists decided to maintain under the
Iranian traditional cultural identity.

Third Period
1949:
The official opening of Apadana Art Gallery took place in Teheran and
it was entitled as the first gallery of modern art in Iran.

1958:
The first Biennale in Teheran and the establishment of the Faculty of
Decorative Arts (graphic design, book illustration) were events of grave
importance. In addition, artistic movements such as Cubism, Pop Art and
Surrealism made their appearance. Art galleries and museums began to
flourish as a result of cooperation between private initiative and
public authorities. Modernism reached its apogee.

1978: Official
Opening of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. Famous pieces of art
were purchased by the Empress. The collection that was created by the
Museum was the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in the
Southern Mediterranean. Nevertheless, the collection could not be open
to the public because of the Revolution.

Fourth Period
1979: Iranian
Revolution. The art was simply forbidden. The art galleries, the
Schools of Fine Arts and the Academies were closed. After the long
Cultural Revolution, the artistic expression was allowed, but only
through references to martial, religious and mystic topics. Since 1988, several new galleries, schools and ateliers were born.

Nowadays in Iran, Art is taught in schools and universities and the students can be male and female. The students are selected by exams.

In Teheran, approximately 100 galleries are open and most of them are run by women.