Category: Art
Azarakhsh Askari – Untitled (2008)
This exhibition is the second of a pair – London Calling Tehran and Tehran Calling London that celebrates the thriving underground art scene of Tehran. It features work created by some of Tehran's leading contemporary artists alongside London based artists. John Phillips, Director of londonprintstudio says 'It's very easy for people in the West to misunderstand contemporary Iranian culture. We are delighted to present this show. This show takes up the art of a generation whose work is not well known in the West.' From around 2000 there was a gradual relaxation of artistic freedom in Tehran and artists began to show challenging work within Iranian public decency laws but in late 2008 there was a radical change in policy and artists and galleries once more came under close scrutiny. Artists living and working in Tehran must remain true to their artistic ambitions while co-existing with the current social order. Expect subversions of new media; public and personal provocations; interactions with technology; style, fashion and protest; images about sexual identity and images about social taboos.
Biographies for some of the contributing artists:
Azarakhsh Askari (above) is best known for her first series of works, which were an intimate look at the meaning of family, death ceremonies, marriage and the meaning of power in a patriarchal society.
Saeed Ensafi– I see the sun (2011) Ensafi is fascinated with stories and their relation to political propaganda. His stories about his childhood recount tales of heroes going in to war against Iraq and coming back home martyrs. Ensafi questions the value of memory and the importance of life and rank in relation to the value of humanity.
Tarlan Rafiee – Spring in My Heart (2012) Rafiee celebrates the spirit of the female within contemporary Iranian society. Spring In My Heart observes young, stylish females on the streets of Tehran. The piece is presented in the style of old Persian newspapers. The female figure with processed blonde hair and vibrant lipstick represents the emancipated and strong woman – beauty and strength personified and represented on a mass scale.
Alireza Ghazi – Untitled (2009) Ghazi creates mixed media collages that explore dramatic incidents in history and the ways in which the props of everyday life. Alireza Ghazi has been a cinematographer, lighting designer and director for the past twelve years. He also works as a photographer, poet and writer.
The work of 22 Tehran artists is featured alongside work by London based artists who participated in the Tehran exhibition. The Tehran Calling artists whose work is on show are: Ali Alavi, Azarakhsh Askari, Mazdak Ayari, Amin Davaie, Saeed Ensafi, Negar Farajiani, Farhad Fozouni, Amirali Ghasemi, Alireza Ghazi, Amirali Golriz, Sahand Hesamiyan, Peyman Hooshmandazeh, Amir Mobed, Behzad Nejadghanbar, Tarlan Rafiee, Saeed Ravanbakhsh, Nastaran Safaei, Yashar Samimi Mofakham, Sina Seifee, Jinoos Taghizadeh, Saleh Tasbihi and Nasser Teymourpour.

The London based artists whose work is on display are: Faisal AbduAllah, Emma Charles, Adam Dant, Godfried Donkor, David Ferry, Satch Hoyt, Tam Joseph, Roshini Kempadoo, Taus Makhcheva, Julia McKenzie, Mythili, Eileen Perrier, John Phillips, Jamie Reid, Susan Stockwell, Joe Strummer, Stella Whalley.
Opening times: Tues – Sat: 10:30am to 5:30pm