Persianesque: Iranian Magazine

2012 Man of the Year: Reza Farahan

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:47:20 +0000

"I'm honored, but more so, impressed...A gay man [chosen] as 'Man of the Year', shows progress."

“Culture of Iran” Book Series: Massoume Price Releases Four New Books

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:15:44 +0000

Massoume Price adds four new books to her Culture of Iran book series: Medieval Iran, Modern Iran (which cover Iranian history and art by using hundreds of images from objects in major museums in Iran and around the globe), Beauty & Fashion (which covers the history of clothing and jewelry by reconstructing attire from museum objects, and original miniatures and [...]

Eric Parnes’ Art Exhibit: “I Dream of Jeannie: I See Demons”

Persianesque Staff — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:30:46 +0000

" I Dream of Jeannie" will examine the Neo Orientalist themes so readily found within American popular culture.

Book Review: Pomegranates and Roses by Ariana Bundy

Rebecca Weber — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 17:55:21 +0000

I was visiting an Iranian friend recently, when my eye caught the light hitting the red-foiled, calligraphic title of the newly-released cookbook, Pomegranates and Roses, by Ariana Bundy. The title alone conjures the essence of Persian cuisine. First introduced to all things Persian by falling in love with a first generation Iranian man (whose family relies [...]

Food Network’s Chopped All Stars: Chatting with Penny Davidi

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:12:56 +0000

Set to appear on "Chopped All Stars", a spinoff of the Food Network's popular show "Chopped", Penny is one busy Persian mom.

PUMA Creative Factory “Built For One” T7 Jacket Competition: Iranian Designers Wanted

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:07:26 +0000

The design project is a collaboration with regional artists, bloggers, musicians and filmmakers to design and create their own version of the iconic T7 Track Jacket at an exclusive workshop event in Dubai, where the select few will put their creative savvy to work and build a bespoke PUMA Creative Factory T7 jacket from an assortment of materials and fabrics.

Spring Equinox: Persian New Year, Norooz 1391 (2012)

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:15:23 +0000

There’s no rooz like Norooz! Norooz (Persian: New day) 1391 is here. Is your haft seen set? Do you have on some new clothes? Are you getting ready to meet up with your family, eat some food–probably sabzi polo and mahi (rice with greens/herbs and fish)–have a good time, laugh it out with your kin, [...]

Shahs of Sunset: Exclusive Interview with Asa Soltan Rahmati

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:43:23 +0000

We know you’ve been eagerly anticipating the airing of what’s sure to be another Bravo and Ryan Seacrest hit reality TV show: “Shahs of Sunset“! In the first episode of “Shahs of Sunset” we will be introduced to six Persian-American friends living a life of luxury in Los Angeles: Asa, Reza, GG, MJ, Mike, and [...]

Sarah Shahi: Fairly Legal Season 2

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:04:29 +0000

She’s back! Persian actress Sarah Shahi‘s show, “Fairly Legal“, begins its second season starting Friday, March 16th, 2012 at 9/8 C. Shahi’s plays feisty ex-attorney-turned-mediator, Kate Reed, who is a firm believer that justice can always be found-even if it’s not always in the courtroom. Though passionate, savvy, and gifted at her job, Kate’s conflict [...]

Nima Nourizadeh: Project X the Movie

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:21:38 +0000

Iranian filmmaker Nima Nourizadeh’s big night starts [March 2, 2012] with the premiere of his film, “Project X“. The ex-Londoner who now lives in LA started out making music videos (for the likes of UK talent like Lily Allen). And now his found footage filmmaking, à la Paranormal Activity, about 3 high school seniors [...]

Magic of Persia: Dubai Nights 2012, Exhibits and Auctions

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 15:36:32 +0000

March 2012 sees Magic of Persia once again presenting their eagerly anticipated Magical Nights in Dubai, taking place during both Art Dubai and the Iranian New Year Celebrations. The fourth of its kind, this star-studded fundraising event will include an exclusive Iranian concert at One and Only Royal Mirage on 22nd March, where the internationally [...]

Persian Manuscripts: The State Library of Victoria Foundation Launches Purchase Appeal

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:56:51 +0000

Australia’s State Library of Victoria launches appeal to purchase rare Persian manuscripts. A successful public appeal to raise $100,000 will see two extraordinary Persian manuscripts join Australia’s finest Rare Book Collection at the State Library of Victoria. The State Library of Victoria Foundation has launched the appeal to help purchase two items: a 16th-century manuscript copy of [...]

Oscars 2012: A Separation Wins Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:37:22 +0000

Congratulations Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi! The first film from Iran to win an Academy Award for “Best Foreign Language Film”, Asghar Farhadi’s captivating drama”A Separation” (Jodaeyeh Nader az Simin), starring his daughter Sarina Farhadi, Leila Hatami, and Peyman Moaadi, revolves around a “middle-class couple who separate, and the intrigues which follow when the husband hires a lower-class [...]

Thurrock International Film Festival: Call for Submissions

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:09:49 +0000

Film festival offers stepping-stone for filmmakers. The borough of Thurrock in Essex, England hosts its very first film festival on Sunday, 24th of June through Saturday, 30th of June 2012. The Thurrock International Film Festival invites filmmakers from around the world to participate in one of this year’s biggest events. Film submissions for the [...]

5th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco: 2012 Call for Submissions

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:06:05 +0000

Discovering the next Generation of Iranian Filmmakers!The 5th Annual Iranian Film Festival – San Francisco, a showcase for the independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world, is inviting the filmmakers from all over the world to submit their films to the next edition taking place September 2012.The films [...]

“Arimas” Featuring Samira Hodaei and Samira Alikhanzadeh: Iranian Artists Exhibit in Switzerland

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:53:46 +0000

“Arimas”, a group exhibition with works by Iranian artists, Samira Hodaei and Samira Alikhanzadeh, will be on display at Ab Gallery Lucerne-‐Emmenbrücke. Carrying the same first name and both living in Tehran, these two artists deal with the role of women in society in both historical and contemporary times. Although they have [...]

Shahs of Sunset Cast: Meet Asa, Golnessa, Mercedeh, Mike, Reza, and Sammy

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:29:14 +0000

Shahs of Sunset finally has a premiere date! Don’t miss the first all Persian cast reality show on American TV, as they bring the drama and laughter on March 11, 2012 at 10 PM EST on Bravo. “We don’t work in buildings…We own them,” quips Mike Shouhed in a promo video for the Shahs of [...]

Iranian Artists Exhibit in UAE: “Domination, Hegemony and The Panopticon”

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:56:59 +0000

Opening today and running through March 31st, 2012, ”Domination, Hegemony and The Panopticon”, and art exhibition in UAE will showcase several Iranian artists, including: Rokni Haerizadeh, Nicky Nodjoumi, Shahpour Pouyan, Hesam Rahmanian, and Farzan Sadjadi. Curated by Rami Farook, this exhibit explores the notion of power through the writings of Jean Baudrillard and Michel Foucault, [...]

Omid Foundations: Color of Love, Artists for Hope

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:49:58 +0000

Iranian artists have come together to put on an exhibition in support of the Omid Foundations.And you are invited to join them at a private viewing in Tehran on 2nd February, 2012. However, if you do not live in Iran, you can still show your support by purchasing the donated works of art online. [...]

Virtual Embassy of the United States Tehran, Iran Blocked Already?

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:18:45 +0000

Has the just launched Virtual Embassy of the United States Tehran, Iran been blocked in Iran already? Indeed it has. What could the reason for the block be? Perhaps the bandwidth was overwhelmed by masses of people trying to access the site which led to such a reaction? It’s unclear. However, it is safe to conclude that this [...]

Love and Devotion: From Persia and Beyond

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:18:56 +0000

Featuring more than 60 visually stunning works on loan from the historic Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford as well as works from the State Library of Victoria and other local collections. Love and Devotion: From Persia and Beyond, is the largest exhibition of Persian manuscripts to be held in Australia. Celebrate the beauty of Persian manuscripts, and the stories of human [...]

The Coming Insurrection: Featuring Iranian Artists Rokni Haerizadeh and Hesam Rahmanian

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:52:31 +0000

"The State" presents a group exhibition running from November 10th-December 3rd, 2011.

Bahar Behbahani: The Chronicle of Her Innocence

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:13:12 +0000

NYU Abu Dhabi presents a solo exhibition by Bahar Behbahani which began Fall 2011 and will run through January 27, 2012. Behbahani explores her childhood memories of Iran’s turbulent history. Painting the psychological landscape of her upbringing she uses language, cultural symbols and icons to convey the “volatile sense of place” that she experienced as a child and [...]

AB Gallery at Abu Dhabi Art 2011: Featuring Iranian Artists

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:34:44 +0000

AB Gallery Luzern/Zürich is delighted to announce that we will participate in Abu Dhabi Art 2011, the Abu Dhabi International Art Fair. After contributing to Art Dubai this year AB Gallery is pleased to announce its second exhibition at an art fair in the UAE this year. The gallery’s booth will showcase major new works from Shahriar Ahmadi (Iran), Halim Al Karim (Iraq), Sadegh Tirafkan (Iran), Samira Hodaei (Iran), Mohamed Abouelnaga (Egypt), Hassan Sharif (UAE), Hassan Meer (Oman), Leila Pazooki (Iran/Germany) and Shahram Entekhabi (Iran/Germany).

Reza Aramesh: “Them Who Dwell on the Earth”

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:29:13 +0000

The figurines are made by a workshop in Italy that has been producing religious statuary for generations, and deliberately infuses the works with an air of old Catholic saints. In their jeans or boxer shorts these beautifully detailed figures of suffering look like modern-day Christs or St. Sebastians. Using the news photographs as raw material, Aramesh recreates scenes using non-professional actors. The figures are then photographed from every angle. (For his restaging photographs he takes the scenarios out of context, often staging them in opulent surroundings.)

London Frieze Week at Royal College of Art: Magic of Persia Art Prize Finalists Exhibit

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:24:34 +0000

Works by 25 of the most promising Iranian contemporary artists will be on free public exhibition at the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, during London’s Frieze Week from October 10–15, 2011. The exhibition concludes with a charity auction of the exhibited works conducted by Christie’s; directly followed by an announcement revealing the MOP CAP 2011 Winner. [...]

Work of Art on Bravo: Interview with Persian Artist, Kymia Nawabi

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:41:58 +0000

Perhaps one of the best shows on television--simply because it promotes the arts in such a positive and productive way--"Work of Art" is giving us one more very major reason to tune in this season: Iranian-American artist, Kymia Nawabi.

Art Exhibit: The State–Social/Antisocial?

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:57:37 +0000

Participating Iranian artists include: Abbas Akhavan, Amir H. Fallah, Laleh Khorramian, and Farhad Moshiri. And showing at Traffic starting Thursday, Sept 22nd, will be Iranian artists Hesam Rahmanian, Mahmoud Bakhshi, Aman Mojadidi, Anahita Razmi, along with other international artists: Banksy, Damien Hirst, The Bruce High Quality Foundation, James Clar, Nada Dada, Tracey Emin, Shepard Fairey, Rami Farook, Abdulnasser Gharem, Hayv Kahraman, Ahmed Mater, Shaikha Al Mazrou, UBIK, Ayman Yossri, aka Daydban

Iranian Jewelry Designer: LUZ by Houman Omidifar

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:32:20 +0000

The LUZ fine jewelry collection is a piece of wearable art that you can conveniently display and enjoy on your finger. Custom-made for the individual, the unisex line is boldly making its mark. At a glance, the intense level of intricacy and an ergonomically designed four-sided ring is a sure give-away of a LUZ piece. [...]

Remembering September 11th: World Trade Center by Eric Esmail Parnes

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:12:03 +0000

The New York Times will be exhibiting “World Trade Center” from September 8th through the 12th. This exhibit is open to the public and will also be featured in the paper’s weekend supplement on September 11, 2011, in a special tribute for the tenth-year anniversary. One of the most lauded works from Parnes’ oeuvre, World [...]

Group Exhibition: Art Platform – Los Angeles

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:15:37 +0000

Leila Heller Gallery will present a group exhibition of contemporary Middle Eastern artists living in the diaspora at the first edition of Art Platform – Los Angeles, a new contemporary and modern art fair from October 1-3, 2011 at the L.A. Mart. The exhibition will feature new and recent work by Shiva Ahmadi, Negar Ahkami, [...]

IFF: Iranian Film Festival San Francisco 2011

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:49:19 +0000

The Iranian Film Festival (IFF) is an annual event showcasing the independent feature and short films made by or about Iranians from around the world, held at the Art Institute of San Francisco. IFF is also a platform for the Iranian filmmakers living around the globe to express their vision and talent through the artistic medium [...]

Iranian Cinema: Song of Sparrows Screening at UKIFF Summer Film Festival

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:37:32 +0000

The London Iranian Film Festival (UKIFF) welcomes the work of internationally and critically acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi and his award winning film "The Song of Sparrows", with a special screening in London, UK. Enjoy an outdoor summer exhibition, along with the screening, celebrating the best of Iranian cinema at the Opera House in Holland Park.

Post-mortem: Prominent Iranian Photographer, Bahman Jalali’s Exhibit at Sprengel Museum

Dorothea Schoene — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:33:12 +0000

Not only was Bahman Jalali one of Iran’s leading photographers, but also a writer, publicist, historian, teacher, museum founder, and beyond. In more than 40 years, Jalali documented the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Iran-Iraq war, as well as the post-war reconstruction years.

Culture of Fear: Thievery Corporation Featuring Loulou

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:06:59 +0000

Like "Omid", "Safar" is on the slower tempo side and comes charged with a spiritual vibe that haunts...Whether you speak Persian or not.

Next Foodnetwork Star: Penny Davidi Getting Spinoff Show?

Persianesque Staff — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:47:53 +0000

Recently eliminated Next Foodnetwork Star, and self-proclaimed “Middle Eastern Momma”, Penny Davidi may have had a somewhat rocky time building relationships with a few of her cast mates, but this Persian girl definitely made a lasting impression on the judges with her cooking skills. Cooking a variety of dishes from all over the Middle East, [...]

Shahs of Sunset: Andy Cohen and Ryan Seacrest Partner on new Persian-American Docu-Series

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:27:41 +0000

"...this is a community that exists all over the place, but if you live in LA you know that the Persian-American community is really strong,” Andy told Ryan on their phone call. “It’s really family oriented. It’s really affluent. This is a really cool, fun, funny group of people...

The Corrupt Minority: Interview with Contemporary Iranian Artist, Taravat Talepasand

Sanaz Khalaj-Santos — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:04:18 +0000

Doctors advised me not to work for six months, but after one month I was drawing and painting again.

Art Review: Parastou Forouhar’s European Exhibit

Dorothea Schoene — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:27:31 +0000

On the occasion of their 20th anniversary, the IFA (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen/Institute for Foreign Relations) galleries in Berlin and Stuttgart present “Political Patterns: Changing Ornaments”, the third exhibition in the series “Cultural Transfers“. The series addresses the reciprocal influence among different cultures, which are manifested in political, economical and social structures as well as social [...]

Casting Call: Party Down South

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:40:18 +0000

Party Down South Casting Tour! Doron Ofir Casting & 495 Productions announce their latest casting call, for their most recent project, The Party Down South (working title). We know the Iranian-American community is a formidable group in the US that expands across the coastlines, boundaries, and cliques…but do we have any representatives in the South? [...]

Remembrance: Flashmob in Paris in Support of 2-Year Anniversary of #IranElection

Persianesque Staff — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:02:54 +0000

Arranged by United4Iran and Move4Iran–two non-profit organizations focusing on human rights issues in Iran–a flashmob dedicated to all the lives lost and all the courageous Iranians who stood up for their rights during the 2009 #IranElection, took place in a Paris, France metro station on June 12, 2011, to mark two year anniversary of Iran’s [...]

Interview: “David” Starring Maz Jobrani

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:41:52 +0000

I know it's not a perfect film (very few are), but it is a project I'm proud of. I think that people will leave the theater discussing some of the topics that are raised by the film.

Shoja Azari & Shahram Karimi: Pop Up Exhibition at Tripoli Gallery in NY

Persianesque Staff — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:16:25 +0000

A solo exhibition of collaborative work by video artist and filmmaker Shoja Azari and painter Shahram Karimi will be on view at LTMH Gallery’s pop-up exhibition at Tripoli Gallery of Contemporary Art, in Southampton, NY from July 29 – August 15, 2011. Featured in the exhibition are the artists’ innovative “video paintings,” which combine painting [...]

Wellness Tips: Keeping Healthy During the Summer

Homeyra Hafizi — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:51:22 +0000

The summer season is upon us. The kids are out of school and families are planning for excursions that will take them on both long and short distance travel. Whether traveling on a plane, ship, train, or a personal car we all do better with a planned itinerary; a road map if you will to [...]

Reign of the Shah: Traffic Presents Bilal Aquil

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:27:00 +0000

In his first solo exhibition, Reign of the Shah, inspired by the Shahnameh (Book of Kings), UK-born artist, Bilal Aquil narrates a story of the assassination of a Shah of the Imperial Court and the subsequent battles that follow to avenge his death and establish the power of the new Shah.

My Persian Nights: UKIFF Presents Iranian Films

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:17:35 +0000

UKIFF aims to bring the "finest Iranian cinema to London." And from now until the London Iranian Film Festival which will take place in November 2011, UKIFF will be hosting a series of special screenings, bimonthly. Titled "My Persian Nights", the scheduled screenings of Iranian films will take place on the 5th and 25th of every month.

Iranian DJ: Q&A with Amin Golestan

Soraya Cochran — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:48:41 +0000

After a string of winning awards, most notably the Palme DJ Competition and the Pioneer Asian DJ Competition in 2008, and being voted as the number one DJ in the Middle East and North Africa, Amin landed the much coveted cover of DJ Magazine in February of 2010.

Philanthropy: eBay Founder, Pierre Omidyar Donates $3 Million to Louvre to Promote Persian Art

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:24:31 +0000

With his recent $3 million donation to the Louvre for "research and educational projects on Persian art" Iranian billionaire and philanthropist, Pierre Morad Omidyar, continues to make us proud.

Breakfast in Tehran: Women in Contemporary Iran

Persianesque Staff — Fri, 27 May 2011 19:41:15 +0000

Breakfast in Tehran will be a chance to see a selection of drawings, collage, photography, video and printmaking from a group of new and established Iranian artists living in Iran and exhibiting in London together for the first time. The exhibition considers the representation of women in contemporary Iranian art, and demonstrates how accepted images and interpretations of femininity are being subverted.

2011 Cannes Film Festival: Jafar Panahi, Mohammad Rasoulof, and the Short Film Corner

Persianesque Staff — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:29:39 +0000

With all the buzz around Melancholia director, Lars von Trier’s Nazi-related comments, and his subsequent status as ”persona non grata” as declared by the Cannes board of directors, we still can’t help but focus on the Iranians presenting their work(s) at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Although major contenders and Iranian filmmakers, Jafar Panahi and Mohammad Rasoulof, [...]