By Tajudeen Sowole
The current crisis faced by
Iran over its nuclear energy enrichment programme has not prevented the
commemoration of its over three decades old revolution, which was the thematic
focus of an exhibition held in Lagos recently.
HELD
at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, to mark Iran’s 33 years old revolution,
the exhibition featured art, craft, books and film.
Shortly before the exhibition opened,
the
Cultural Counselor, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Lagos, Mr.
Seyed Bagher Seyed Jawadi, said the works on display, represent making a trip
through Iran while in Nigeria.
Noting that Nigeria and Iran share similar
diversity among each country’s nationals, the exhibition, he argued, had one or
two things to offer Nigerians in the quest for unity.
According to him, the show offers what can be
described as “life experiences through art and exchange with different cultural
works, which is the main reason for holding this exhibition here in beloved
Nigeria.”
The Director-General of National Commission
for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman noted that the
exhibition is very important “because culture has helped the people of Iran
understand each other, considering that they are from the same region, but have
different mentalities and level of economic development.”
Usman argued that for the country’s history
of about seven thousand years, Iran is an incredible place to visit. “It would
be well worth seeing as its diversity of landscapes, monuments, customs, and
lifestyles make Iran attractive in any season.” About one million historical
sites exist in Iran, according to the country’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism
Organisation.
Such quality in heritage and cultural value,
he noted, would reflect in the exhibition.
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Cultural Counselor, Embassy of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, in Lagos, Mr Seyed Bagher Seyed Jawadi (left) showing his
hosts the D-G of NCMM, Mallam Usman, former curator of National Museum, Onikan,
Lagos, Ronke Ashaye and Ag Curator, Vickie Agili some works during the on
exhibition
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The show, Usman explained must be recognised
as comprising technical values, knowledge, science and skills upon which the
current identity of the Iranian people is based, serving as a lunch-pad for
economic growth and social cohesion.”
He noted that culture plays a crucial role in
strengthening peaceful co-existence among nations. “Cultural dialogues in all
their diversities play an essential role as agents of global development and peaceful
co-existence; to promote dialogues among cultures and civilizations across
states and nations.” The show, he insisted would provide “backgrounds for the
revival of cultural and bilateral agreement between Nigeria and Iran.”
Indeed, the show was a source of education on
Iranian art. For example, in the art and book sections, a catalogue of 2nd Biennial of Islamic World Paintings
themed Mirror of Sight was on display.
Works in the catalogue show that art is universal, irrespective of cultural
difference.
For Iranian art, which dwells more on
abstraction and subtle figurative, the dynamics of conceptuality across the
genres such as paintings, installations and sculptures, as viewed via the works
on display, underscores the country’s cultural value that is opened to all.
Iranian art exhibition appears to have found
a place in the art calendar of Lagos as it holds regularly every year. This
much, the Acting Curator of the National Museum, Vickie Agili acknowledged when
she recalled that “this is the seventh year that the Iranian Embassy has been
partnering with the Lagos Museum to celebrate the Iranian Revolution.”
She added, “we are celebrating the culture
which unites the people of Iran.”
However, Jawadi lamented that the exhibits
were not as rich as he would have liked. He explained: “it was because of long
distance between Nigeria and Iran, which makes it difficult to deliver more
contemporary Iranian works.”
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Mallam Usman and visiting pupils, during the exhibition
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