While Persian calligraphy and artwork is more familiar to most audiences, there are other rich traditions of calligraphy in the minority cultures of Iran. These traditions have inspired a genre of contemporary art that incorporates the written languages and enriches the visual expression of these peoples, reports Artfix Daily.
For this exhibition, the New York based Tally Beck Contemporary will be exhibiting works by Ani Babaian (Armenian), Hannibal Alkhas (Assyrian), Solayman Sassoon (Jewish), Siamak Jamshidizadeh, Pooneh Oshidari, and Kourosh Vafadari (Zoroastrian). “Animating the Word: The Legacy of Iran’s Minority Calligraphic Traditions” opened on Wednesday and will run until Dec 30.
Inspirational concept for this unique show of calligraphy from Iran comes from Richard N. Frye (1920–2014), the first holder of the Aga Khan Professorship in Iranian Studies at Harvard University. Frye, an enthusiastic language learner, enjoyed rendering short Persian poems in his elegant hand. He also had a deep appreciation of minority languages of Iran and the Middle East, including those represented in this show as well as others written in modified forms of the Arabic alphabet. This show is dedicated to his memory.
Tally Beck Contemporary focuses on Asian contemporary art. Founded in 2010, the gallery emphasizes fresh expression from Asia with regular exhibitions. It also maintains a strong presence at international art fairs, including Art Market San Francisco, Art Market Hamptons, LA Art Show, Miami Project, Texas Contemporary, and SCOPE Basel.
