Iranian artists paint in support of oppressed people of Gaza

Former Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art curator Habibollah Sadeqi creates a painting during a gathering held by the Iranian artists at Tehran’s Art Bureau on January 13 and 14, 2009 to express their solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza. (Mehr/Sara Sassani)

“The work I created is a 12 meter long combined painting of fives scenes depicting light and darkness. Light is the symbol of justice, which also resembles the thoughts of the people of Gaza,” he said.

He also added, “The works created in this gathering are a petition by artists from the world assemblies to help support the people of Gaza. I think the artwork is of high quality and the artists have been able to empathize with the people of Gaza.”

Heidari also remarked that this workshop is an effective means to raise the conscience of the world. Like Picasso who awakened minds about war through his painting ‘Guernica’, the artists here attempted to display the oppression and victory of the people of Gaza.

“In my painting, a part of the siege of Gaza is depicted beside the enemy’s destructiveness, and at the far end the American Statue of Liberty is shown as kindling for fire,” Heidari explained.

Farhad Rustampur, the lone miniaturist participating in the gathering from Markazi Province, also talked about his work and said, “I connected the themes of Ashura with the resistance of the Gaza people in my work.”

Asadi also remarked that he took part in the gathering to announce the support of the Iranian people and the artists through his art of painting.

“I painted several birds representing the people of Palestine who are trapped inside an unstable compass, which symbolizes the Zionist regime and I hope we will gather here someday to paint in celebration of the victory of the world’s oppressed people,” Asadi concluded.

RM/YAW

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MNA