Compiled from Dispatches
AUk-based exhibition on Iranian art, history and culture will open on May 29, according to the announcement by a foundation in London.
According to the Iran Heritage Foundation (IHF) in the UK, ‘Epic Iran’ is the first major UK exhibition on Iran since 1931, and covers ancient, medieval and contemporary Iranian art, history and culture.
The exhibition organized by the V&A with the Iran Heritage Foundation, in association with the Sarikhani Collection, will run from May 29 to September 12 in London, iranheritage.org wrote.
‘Epic Iran’ will explore 5,000 years of Iranian art, design and culture, bringing together more than 300 objects from ancient, Islamic and contemporary Iran.
It will be the UK’S first major exhibition in 90 years to present an overarching narrative of Iran from 3000 B.C. to the present day.
On May 22, behind the upcoming exhibition, a curatorial team will give an overview of the show during the free online talk ahead of its opening date in late May.
Organized by the IHF, the team includes IHF Academic Director John Curtis, V&A Senior Curator Tim Stanley, Sarikhani Collection’s Director Ina Sarikhani Sandmann, V&A Project Curator Sarah Piram, V&A Exhibition Research Assistant Alex Magub, and IHF Director of Operations Astrid Johansen.
The Iran Heritage Foundation is a non-political UK registered charity with a mission to promote and preserve the history, languages and cultures of Iran and the Persianate world, covering all periods of Iranian civilization from ancient to modern. The IHF has a longstanding association with the V&A and has supported an IHF curator of the Iranian Collection at the V&A since 2009.
‘Epic Iran’ will shine a light on one of the greatest historic civilizations, its journey into the 21st century and its monumental artistic achievements, which remain unknown to many.
“Ninety years since the last major UK exhibition to cover 5,000 years of Iranian art, design and culture, Iran has undergone significant changes and the cultural landscape has changed dramatically. ‘Epic Iran’ will serve a vital purpose in enabling audiences in Britain to discover more about one of the world’s great historic civilizations and its incredible creative output in the 21st century. This landmark exhibition will unite the ancient and Islamic study of Iran – often seen as two separate disciplines – alongside a powerful modern and contemporary section, allowing the Iranian people’s artistic achievements across millennia to be considered in their entirety,” Director of V&A Tristram Hunt said, iranheritage.org reported.
The Co-curator of Epic Iran John Curtis said: “Visitors will be astonished by the quality and variety of objects from Ancient Persian, showing that it had a civilization every bit as advanced and prosperous as those in neighboring Mesopotamia and Egypt. It will be clear that the Persian Empire, founded in 550 B.C., inherited a very rich legacy from earlier periods of Iranian history”.
Iran was home to one of the great historic civilizations, yet its monumental artistic achievements remain unknown to many. Epic Iran will explore this civilization and the country’s journey into the 21st century, from the earliest known writing – signaling the beginning of history in Iran – through to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and beyond.
Ranging from sculpture, ceramics and carpets, to textiles, photography and film, works will reflect the country’s vibrant historic culture, architectural
splendors, the abundance of myth, poetry and tradition that have been central to Iranian identity for millennia, and the evolving, self-renewing culture evident today.
From the Cyrus Cylinder and intricate illuminated manuscripts of the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), to 10-meter-long paintings of Isfahan tilework, and Shirin Aliabadi’s photographs, the exhibition will offer a fresh perspective on a country that is so often seen through a different lens in the news.
Also, an online course will be held on Iran dubbed as “The Arts of Iran: 5,000 Years of Culture” from April 21-May 26, vam.ac.uk wrote.
From the ancient palaces of Persepolis, to the opulence of the Safavid court, to works by leading contemporary artists, this course by V&A Academy Online will showcase the rich artistic and cultural references that are woven through Iran’s long history.