Visual Culture

These days, the new cultural criteria seems to be: Whatever you don’t see on CNN.

” … I remember being surprised when I read that some of my favorite designs in “area. 100 graphic designers. 010 curators. 010 design classics” are by designers who live and work in Tehran. Cutting edge graphic design is not something I would associate with Iran. But as I found out there is in fact a thriving graphic design scene in Iran …” Ivar Hagendoorn, read more

“Much has been said lately about the nose jobs and culture gaps in Iran of late, but little light has been shed on the art … … … the arrangement of the Farsi words. Sometimes they are knotted together in an unintelligable nest, and other times drip out of a clenched fist. It’s a facet of the book that makes this a gem for typographers. A fine visual reference really for anyone interested in a largely unexplored aspect of Iranian culture, maybe our State Department should pick up a copy or two … ” Tokion, read more

“ … Iranian graphic design is some of the most impressive happening today, and this is the first collection aimed at international readers. In the past few years, Iranian designers have won admiring attention overseas, though to date most of this has come from non English-speaking countries, particularly France … ” eyemagazine, read more

“… the current trends absorbing the minds and talents of Iranian artists is a fascinating mixture of poetry, humanistic statements and reactions to the nearly constant states of upheaval in this seminal land …”

“… Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am reading too much into it, maybe my lens is too tinted or tainted. Either way, it is a record nonetheless of what is on the minds of modern day Iranian artists, reporting that the truth is once again alive and well inside modern day Iran and recording our history like it always has. For better or worse. It’s good to see you again my friends…”Persian Mirror, read more

” … At this particular time in our history, with our somewhat distorted reportage of Iran as depicted on television and the news media clouding our appreciation of an extant yet ancient culture fully transported into the present, this fine book provides an important bridge toward understanding a fascinating country. As is so often the case the artists are our shaman and offer us a more humanistic view of differences and similarities among our global neighborhood. This book is a must for all students and practitioners of art in this country: it is also highly recommended as an introduction to the creativity of a nation seeking understanding!” Grady Harp, read more

See more in the IMAGE GALLERY thx to Iranian.co

New Visual Culture of Modern Iran colorfully showcases some of the most innovative and impressive work from illustrators, graphic designers and photographers living and working in Iran today. As Abedini writes in his introduction: “This book . . . will give you an insight into the real Iran, other than what the BBC or CNN news would give you!”

Reza Abedini is the recipient of The Principal Prince Claus Award
Graphic design, Illustrations, Photography by Reza Abedini and Hans Wolbers
2006, Mark Batty Publisher

Lava: content driven design
Review and more photos at Peyvand

An exhibition: The Visual Language of Reza Abedin

Platform 21, Amsterdam, January 2007

Click on images

Interesting international graphic websites:
designws.com
eye, the International review of graphic design
Ivar Hagendoorn
Phaidon
Tokion

Schooling In Teheran

You have noticed by now that I really enjoy reading witty Shirin‘s blog and website. Her illustrations are great too, don’t miss them.

When I was at school, the ten day celebration of the revolution was always very exciting. The best thing about it was that this was one of the very few occasions when people could be happy openly and not feel like they were acting un-Islamic (on account of Islam being a religion all about seriousness as we were told). On these ten days a lot of great… read more