The Wake

It’s an exhibit that almost never was. As a part of an international exchange between galleries, the Nash was scheduled to put on a photography exhibit from Iran titled Persian Silver. However, considering the security involved bringing in anything from the Middle East, the photographs were held up in customs en route to the gallery, delaying the show. It seemed as though the walls at the newly relocated Nash gallery might remain bare, but a few phone calls from Senator Mark Dayton managed to free the artwork and get it moving towards its moment in the spotlight.

According to Nicholas Shank, publicist for the Nash Gallery, the show is a “milestone exhibit.” While Iranian artwork has gotten some exposure in Europe, that region of the world has been left virtually ignored by the United States. This exhibit is a milestone not only for the University, but also for the country, since it is the first show consisting entirely of contemporary Iranian photography to be shown in the United States.

The exhibit’s curatorial consultant and University Associate Art Professor Gary Hallman sees the merging of two cultures as a large piece of the show’s significance.

“The universal appeal of art is powerfully mediated both by the culture producing it and by the culture in which it is received. Of all the art forms, the medium of photography delivers detailed specifics that make cultural differences all the more interesting,” he said.

Hallman played a large role in the exhibit’s visit to the Nash. He spent many years working along with Iran’s Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art to arrange an exchange of exhibits. In April of 2000, the museum hosted an exhibition of Hallman’s own work. After planning around the bureaucratic issues that any import from Iran will face, Hallman was able to organize a trade between the galleries. An exhibition featuring work from photographers based in the Twin Cities is tentatively scheduled to take place in 2004/2005.

Trying to picture modern life in Iran or any of its neighboring countries is not always easy for us in the United States. One astonishing aspect of the show is that much of the photography in the exhibit allows the viewer to see modern life in the country. And, surprisingly, this too is a country laden with pop culture and advertising.

In a photo titled “Cologne” by Ahmd Nategi, we see an Iranian woman grimacing in pain beneath a surreal image of a woman from advertising beaming down on life below. The photo is a surprising depiction of Iranian life, showing a similarity between their relationship with pop culture and our own.

In a series by Shahriar Tavakoli, we see an Iranian family appear over-modernized in bright hyper color while embracing the traditional dress and food of their culture. The ornate food and clothing appears worn and theatrical when combined with the intense coloring.

The exhibit also explores the political upheaval that is a part of daily life in the country. Esmaiel Abbasi’s “Tantalus” shows chained ankles juxtaposed beneath a sky of flying birds. The photo displays a way of life we would expect from Iran, oppression and longing for freedom.

Another surprising aspect of the exhibit is the heavy presence of abstract and modern styles. Many of the photos forego the traditional photographic style and instead integrate usage of collage and painting. Apparently, it is not just Western Europe and the United States that embrace new art forms.

Considering the current events in that area of the world, the project is a timely event. Those behind the exhibit hope it will serve as a catalyst to create dialogue between foreign cultures. The exhibit may give Minnesotans a better idea of just what life in Iran is like and which current issues are changing life for the country’s inhabitants. The director of the Tehran Museum Ali Reza Sami-Azar wrote in a letter to Hallman that the exhibit will convey “artists as a group who pay attention to cultural dialogue and discourse between nations.”

This exhibit will remain at the Katherine E. Nash Gallery in the Regis Center for Art on the University’s West Bank until April 28.

Also currently on display is a video installation piece by multimedia artist Gary Hill, which brings to mind the work of comedian Buster Keaton.