Contemporary art from Iran, curated by Shaheen Merali Speaking from the heart, The Polemic Sensibility from Iran

The exhibition will show the works of artists who are affiliated with the artists collective the Azad Art Gallery, located in Iran. The work of these artists feature themes such as human rights, democracy, freedom of speech, and the constant search for individual freedom of expression. The work of these artists relate critically to the current political situation in Iran.

Participating Artists

Mehraneh Atashi, Navid Azimi Sajadi, Mahmood Bakhshi, Masoumeh Bakhtiary, Majid Fathizadeh, Parastou Forouhar, Farhad Fozouni, Ghazaleh Hedayat, Taha Heydary, Melodi Hosainzadeh, Katayoun Karami, Aria Kasaei, Majid Korang Beheshti, Azadeh Madani, Amir Mobed, Mehran Mohajer, Masoumeh Mozafari, Homan Nobakht, Sara Roohisefat, Atefeh Samaei, Rozita Sharafjahan, Mohamad M. Tabatabaei and Reza Abedini.

This group exhibition offers an exceptional insight into the bodily experiences behind the events of the 'Green Revolution' in Iran. These protests have been marked as the beginning of the Arabic Spring and the general outcry for democracy in the Middle East. This exhibition shows how the artists collective around the Azad Art Gallery contribute to this battle with their art.

The Highlights from the Exhibition

Rozita Sharafjahan / +Six desire series' 1/2, 2011, collage of print and stitch / Courtesy of the Artist

Rozita Sharafjahan / 'Six desire series' 2/2, 2011, collage of print and stitch / Courtesy of the Artist

Masoumeh Bakhtiari / 'We don't have a hinterland', underwear in a box / Courtesy of the Artist

Majid Koorang Behesti / 'Sombulist', Edition 2-5, 2011, 100x70 cm / Courtesy of the Artist

Sara Roohisefat / 'Roses', 2011 / Courtesy of the Artist

The exhibition has been curated by international operating curator Shaheeen Merali. The goal is to offer these artists from Iran a podium and the Dutch public the chance to become aquainted with the contemporary art from this region. Shaheen Merali is both a curator, artist and writer, currently based in London and Berlin, where, from 2003 till 2008, he was the Head of Exhibitions, Film and New Media at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), curating several exhibitions including The Black Atlantic: Travelling Cultures, Counter-Histories, Networked Identities (2004); Dreams and Trauma: Moving Images and the Promised Lands (2005); China – Between the Past and the Future (2006); and Re-Imagining Asia, One Thousand years of Separation (2008). In 2006, he was invited to be the co-curator of the 6th Gwangju Biennale, Korea.