May 2016

1. Painter Parviz Kalantari dies at 85

The diligent artist and illustrator Parviz Kalantari, famous for his indigenous drawings of Iranian nomadic life passed away late May at age 85. “He was from a generation whose main concern was making a bridge between modern paintings and the venerable cultural heritage, which is tradition.” Read more here

2. The Past, the Present, and the Bridge: Ali Dehbashi’s Bukhara Magazine

“Can the nascent literary enthusiasts of today be connected to the generations before them? Dehbashi’s events, each in their own way, attempt to bridge the old with the new. He has been walking the streets of Tehran for decades now, organizing, hosting, editing, and publishing, despite the buttons that have been yanked off. One wonders how long the shirt, and the man wearing it, will hold.”

Don’t miss Read LA Review of Books‘ introduction of Bukhara Nights.

3. All the world’s a stage for Iranian director Asghar Farhadi at Cannes

Years after Abbas Kiarostami’s starring at Cannes, now it is Asghar Farhadi’s turn to draw attentions to Iranian cinema once again with the awards granted to his latest film ‘The Salesman’. This interview with an AE magazine is worth reading.

4. Tehran International Book Fair 2016 Held

The 29th edition of TIBF was far more exciting than the previous editions partially due to the new location that despite all fears and estimations, turned out to a good move with a considerable impact on sales rates. Marjohn Shirmohammadi’s report offers a thorough survey of the event from different aspects.