Rarely-Seen Persian Artworks to Be Exhibited in Sydney
Titled “Iranzamin” (Land of Iran), the exhibit will be opened to the public on March 19.
According to the organizers, the event is the first survey exhibition of Persian art and crafts acquired by the Powerhouse Museum since its establishment in 1880.
It explores the stories behind rarely seen artifacts from the middle of the 19th century up to now, shedding light on the diverse social and cultural history of Persia – today’s Iran – and its people.
The exhibition examines how objects inspired by traditional arts and crafts were used in Persian society, focusing on seven themes: joy and happiness; purification and cleansing; spirituality and devotion; poetry and calligraphy; rituals and performance; patronage and craftsmanship; nature and design.
Furthermore, Iranzamin encompasses a diversity of materials and techniques, including hand-woven crafts, carpets, and rugs; arms and armor; glass, ceramics, and tiles; textiles, embroidery, and foundry.
Iranzamin examines how the influence of Persia, situated between two major trade routes – the Silk Road and the Indian Ocean – spread out into the world.
Special attention is paid to the influence of Persian culture on non-Iranian craftsmen and artists such as Australian painter and textile designer Florence Broadhurst. This includes original Broadhurst wallpaper prints titled Persian Phoenix (Simorgh), Persian Birds, and Persian Pomegranates and Flowers.
The opening of Iranzamin coincides with the Persian new year Noroz. Programs will include the celebrations of Noruz, Haftsin, a table traditionally set for the Persian new year on 20 March, and Sizdehbehdar, the Persian national day for the celebration and admiration of Mother Nature, which will be held in the Powerhouse Museum on 3 April 2021, according to the museum.
After the turmoil and strife of the eighteenth century in Persia, the rise to power of the Qajar dynasty (1789 to 1925) signaled a new peace and unity for the country. The Qajar shahs relied heavily on the visual arts to confirm and solidify their new position. One aspect of their public image tied them to the long history of Persia and its ancient dynasties, but another component of their identity was as modernizers and reformers.
This involved both changes to the government and the acceptance of new technologies such as the railroad and the telegraph. In the arts, this meant support of the new techniques of lithography and photography, as well as innovative applications of existing forms in Iran such as portraiture and oil painting.
Iran, Spain Stress Closer Sports Cooperation
In the Monday meeting, the two sides called for further enhancement of mutual cooperation on youth and sports.
“We are ready for any kind of sports cooperation with Spain,” said Soltanifar.
The top Spanish diplomat, in turn, highlighted that Iran enjoys great potential in the domain of sports.
Iran Urges Europe to Be More Serious in Fighting Narcotics
Chief of Staff of the president’s office Mahmoud Vaezi said fighting drugs is a common responsibility of the global community.
“The common responsibility of the international community in fight against illicit drugs requires that all countries play their role well and seriously,” said Vaezi at a meeting on the measures adopted by Iran in fighting narcotics.
“The country’s officials have consensus on fighting drugs,” he added.
“Although Iran is a route through which narcotics pass, and is not a destination for them, the country has sustained the highest costs for fighting illicit drugs,” he added.
“Despite the problems caused by the United States’ illegal sanctions and the coronavirus pandemic, Iran has moved full steam ahead with its campaign against illicit drugs and narco-trafficking,” Vaezi explained.
He then urged Europe to work more seriously in the fight against drugs.
“As a destination for drugs smuggled from the region, Europe should be more sensitive and have more serious cooperation,” he said.
Irish FM’s Trip to Tehran Could Bridge Iran-EU Gap: Analyst
Sanctions against Iran are still in place and the outlook for the United States’ return to the 2015 nuclear deal as well as the future of the deal remains shrouded in mystery.
New US President Joe Biden has almost settled down at the White House, but still there is no word on the lifting or suspension of sanctions against Iran.
Tehran has set the condition that it will sit at the negotiating table with Washington only when all sanctions are lifted. However, it seems there is not enough determination to do so.
Meanwhile, an Irish delegation came to Tehran a few days ago to mediate between Iran and Europe over the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The Irish foreign minister is not the first person to be willing to act as a mediator.
French officials had earlier announced their willingness to intervene, but Iran did not welcome their offer.
But at this juncture, how can we take the two countries to a point where the US would return to the JCPOA and Iran’s problems would be settled?
In an interview with Khabar Online, seasoned expert on international issues Fereydoon Majlesi has weighed in on these developments.
Q: A senior Irish delegation has come to Tehran to mediate and has met with our country’s officials. What is your analysis of this trip and do you think such intervention would be effective?
A: I’m not confident that such moves will help, but I know that Ireland has nothing special to do with Iran. We do not have trade and industrial relations with each other, either. So the Irish team is in Iran for something else. I hope Iranian officials would realize how important Iran’s presence in the international arena is for other countries, not only for those who think they have special benefits and interests, but even for those who are sensitive about the future of the world and relations between countries. They expect things will get better after the flexibility shown by the three European countries, which refused to submit their draft anti-Iran resolution to the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Now, they have asked a country which is neutral toward Iran to mediate. Therefore, we hope this trip will help the two sides, i.e., Iran and the European Trokia to hear each other’s voice better.
Coronavirus Kills 100 More Iranians in 24 Hours: Ministry
In a press briefing on Monday, Sima-Sadat Lari reported 8,313 new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total number of cases to 1,449,350.
So far, Lari added, 1,449,350 patients have recovered from the disease or been discharged from the hospital.
Lari said 3,804 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.
The spokeswoman noted that 11,337,942 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country so far.
Ayatollah Sistani Urges Removal of Sanctions in Meeting with Pope: Iran
“The messages Ayatollah Sistani highlighted in his meeting [with the Pope] were very important ones, including attention to justice, the role of faith in settlement of global problems today, fair methods of treating nations including removal of sanctions,” Khatibzadeh said on Monday.
“In this meeting, the world’s religious leaders were also called on to help build a better world. The inalienable rights of Palestinian people were among the other messages highlighted by the top religious authority, all of which were considerable,” the spokesman said in his weekly press conference.
“The [Pope’s] meeting with Iraq’s top religious authority Grand Ayatollah Sistani was an indication of interfaith dialogue and proximity and sends the message of dialogue, peace, and friendship as well as cooperation between civilizations, against [the will of] those who seek violence and bloodshed,” he added.
He also described the Pope’s visit to Iraq as a good and important one.
“The visit is important per se as it indicates that, thanks to the Iraqi people’s bravery, the top religious authority’s prudence, and the lives sacrificed in the fight against extremism and external threats, Iraq is so safe now that one can make such a good and constructive trip to the Arab country.”
“The safety and peace and restoration of calm in Iraq is definitely the message of this trip and similar trips to the country,” he added.
Afghanistan No ‘Bargaining Chip’ for Iran-US Talks: Spokesman
Speaking in a weekly press conference on Monday, Khatibzadeh said Iran views its friends based on friendship.
“We have never had an instrumental view of our friends in the region,” he stressed.
“Afghanistan is per se a very important region to us, and is not our bargaining chip for talks with any other party,” he added.
He further referred to a meeting on Afghanistan which is to be held at the United Nations and within the UN framework, and said, “We haven’t received any invitation from the UN regarding Afghanistan.”
“We will wait to receive the UN invitation and then we will consider the issue,” he added.
The spokesman also made it clear that Tehran and Washington have not been engaged in any direct or indirect negotiations over any issue.
“Let me say it explicitly that we haven’t had and don’t have any direct or indirect contact with the United States regarding the JCPOA or other issues.”
Iran to Ask Google, Instagram, Whatsapp to Respect Its Regulations
Speaking in a national cyberspace conference held online, Abolhassan Firoozabadi said relevant authorities are to tell the Google company as well as the other two social networking services about Iran’s rules and regulations.
“There is no room for debate about platforms which are blocked now, but folks have been authorized to enter into talks with Google, Instagram and Whatsapp to tell them to respect our regulations. Of course, we believe not enough efforts have been made in that regard,” he added.
He noted the Iranian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology is responsible for holding the talks.
He also called on officials not be present on blocked platforms.
