Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran is hosting a rare exhibition of artworks by globally acclaimed painter, illustrator and installation artist Ali Akbar Sadeghi, 80.

The exhibit, organized by Ali Akbar Sadeghi Foundation, opened on Sunday as the city was blanketed by snow unseen in a long time, Honaronline reported.

“Among its various programs, the museum dedicates each season to one influential artist. This time, we are honored to hold an exhibition of works by Ali Akbar Sadeghi,” said TMoCA chief Majid Molla-Norouzi at the ceremony, Honaronline reported.

“Sadeghi has presented a new reading of lithographic works. He has innovated in every area of his work … His works are significant in terms of mythology and symbolism. His paintings are imbued with collective Iranian memory,” Molla-Norouzi said.

The exhibit is curated jointly by Fereshteh Mousavi. About Sadeghi’s works, she said: “Since the 1960s, he has been exploring various forms of art. In doing so, he has promoted the visual culture of a nation. The present exhibition is the artist’s largest and most comprehensive so far.”

On display are over 200 artworks Sadeghi created over the long period in his artistic career, highlighting his practice across diverse fields of art, including sculpture, drawing, painting, illustration, graphic design, animation and publications, she said.

Among the featured works are illustrations and paintings with which Sadeghi breathed new life into epic Persian books (including Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh) and ‘coffee-house paintings (an Iranian folk style in painting). He has depicted heroes and legendaries with slightly humoristic strokes.

“For this exhibit, we selected works from different stages and periods of his art to enable visitors see the artist from an inclusive perspective,” Mousavi said. The works are accompanied by texts to convey their concepts and meanings.

After some of Sadeghi’s animations were screened at the ceremony, Ali Bakhtiari who curated the animation section of the exhibit gave a speech. “What are we referring to when we talk about Ali Akbar Sadeghi? A painter? A poet? An animator? He is a combination of various arts. Sadeghi is a poet and painter of yesterday, today and tomorrow.”

Finally it was Sadeghi’s turn to speak. “Artists and scientists are here on Earth to reveal beauties and mysteries to humans,” he told the guests.  “Your presence is what I care most about. You motivate me and I love you very much.”

Through correcting our wrongs, we should try and build a utopia. Love, passion and friendship can and should be expanded. I hope one day all people will be able to love and respect one another,” Sadeghi said to the ovation of the crowd.

The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of artists who came to see the artist’s versatile works and also celebrate his 80th birthday.

Painter Hossein Mahjoubi; cartoonist Kambiz Derambakhsh; writer, poet and literary critic Javad Mojabi; sculptor and architect Abbas Mashhadizadeh; photographer Mohammad Farnoud; actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya; calligraphic painter Ahmad Aryamanesh; sculptor Kourosh Golnari; painter Nasser Palangi; composer and conductor Nader Mashayekhi and painter and graphic designer Behzad Shishegaran were present at the ceremony.

The exhibit will run through April 14. On the sidelines meetings, lectures and other events revolving around the works and thoughts of the accomplished artist will be organized at the TMoCA venue located on N. Kargar Street, between Fatemi Street and Keshavarz Blvd.

Source: Financial Tribune