January 28 – March 24, 2013
Contact:
Thomas Moore
410-455-3370
tmoore@umbc.edu
Alicia DeWitt
410-455-3495
adewitt@umbc.edu
The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran, on display from January 28 through March 24. Persian Visions was developed by Hamid Severi for the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Iran, and Gary Hallman of the Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington D.C.
In the first survey of contemporary Iranian photography to travel to the United States, Persian Visions: Contemporary Photography from Iran features more than sixty works by twenty of Iran's most celebrated photographers who use the camera as a tool for cultural expression and self-exploration. The exhibition offers a glimpse into the aspects of existence—family, history, place, mortality, language, memory—that engage us all. These photographers offer a poignant reminder that at the center of political turmoil there can be humanity, and that a keen eye tuned to the tensions of modern life need not be blind to its poetry.
Iran has long distinguished itself with the spectacular quality and international presence of its visual art and film. With the backdrop of increasing attention given to the art and culture of Iran and the current political crisis in that part of the world, an exhibition with this focus is most timely. In expressing their many different visions of their world, these artists offer a look at both private and public realms. Their perspectives contradict the way many foreign photographers typically capture Iran on film as purely exotic.
The exhibition features works by artists including Shokoufeh Alidousti, offering self-portraits and family photographs exploring both cultural and female identity; Esmail Abbasi, who draws on Persian literature for his subject matter with contemporary notes on the present circumstances in Iran; Shahriar Tavakoli, who focuses on his family history through a series of portraits capturing the subtleties and mood of the Iranian family; Koroush Adim and his Revelation series; and Shahrokh Ja'fari whose use of unusual spacial rendering in depicting the veiled figure demands that the viewer look harder and think harder about what can be revealed through the visual.
Hours
Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri: 12 P.M. – 4 P.M.
Thursday: 12 P.M. – 8 P.M.
Sat/Sun: 1 P.M. – 5 P.M.
About the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery
The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery serves as one of the principal art galleries in the Baltimore region. Objects from the Special Collections Department, as well as art and artifacts from all over the world, are displayed in challenging and informative exhibitions for the University community and the public. Moreover, traveling exhibitions are occasionally presented, and the Gallery sends some exhibits on tour to other institutions nationwide. Admission to the Gallery and its programs is free.
Public Information
UMBC Arts & Culture Calendar: artscalendar.umbc.edu
Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery: aok.lib.umbc.edu/gallery/
Acknowledgements
This exhibition was made possible in part by the ILEX Foundation, University of Minnesota McKnights Arts and Humanities Endowment, and the Department of Art, Regis Center for Art, University of Minnesota.
The Library Gallery's presentation of this exhibition is supported by an arts program grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support comes from the Friends of the Library & Gallery, the Libby Kuhn Foundation, and individual contributions.
Images for Media
www.umbc.edu/newsevents/arts/hi-res/
Images in this release: Yahya Dehghanpoor, Untitled, no date; Ebrahim Khadem Bayat, Untitled, 1997; Mehran Mohajer, T.V. Series 1 (The Light is Out the Room is Dark), 2003; Ahmad Nateghi, Untitled, 1998; Arman Stephanian, Untitled, 2003.
Directions and Parking Information
UMBC is located approximately 10 minutes from downtown Baltimore and 20 minutes from I-495.
• From I-95 between Baltimore and Washington, take exit 47B. Follow signs for Route 166 toward Catonsville, signs for UMBC, and then signs to the Walker Avenue Garage and Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery.
• From I-695, take Exit 12C (Wilkens Avenue west) and continue one-half mile to the entrance of UMBC at the roundabout intersection of Wilkens Avenue and Hilltop Road. Turn left and follow signs to the Walker Avenue Garage and Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery.
• Daytime metered visitor parking is available in the Walker Avenue Garage.
