Upcoming exhibitions
One relates only to Armenia, the other with Armenian content
Royal Geographical Society
1 Kensington Gore
London SW7 2AR
· Armenia – Land of Culture. Exhibition of photographs, free & open to public
Monday 2 to Friday 6 March, 10am to 5pm daily
Armenia was one of the countries of the famous Silk Road, which accommodated trade and cultural exchange long ago
and became the first nation to adopt Christianity, in 301 AD, as a state religion.
This exhibition presents a country with a millennia-long history and traditions, an excellent destination for cultural, religious,
historical and adventure tourism.
For further information look on http://www.proartandco.co.uk/
Pro Art & Co is a non-profit organisation which has dedicated most of its activities towards the advancement of education and
the promotion of different cultures, arts and peoples from around the world, particularly those who live in Britain. We organise
cultural events, art exhibitions, literary events, musical events, dances, recitals, workshops and seminars for all ages.
[the following week there is an exhibition entitled Türkiye from 1000 feet:
their website includes three pictures of Van, two of which show the devastation of the previous Armenian part]
SHAH ʿABBAS: THE REMAKING OF IRAN
Exhibition
19 February - 14 June 2009
The Reading Room
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
An exhibition focusing on the reign of Shah ʿAbbas I, of the Safavid Dynasty and a pivotal figure in the history of pre-modern Iran whose
legacy lives on in the magnificent buildings of Isfahan and the opulent gifts that he gave to the major shrines of Iran.
Organized by
The British Museum in association with the Iran heritage Foundation.
In Partnership with
The National Museum of Iran
The Iranian Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization
Supported by
The Azima Foundation, Mr. & Mrs. Manucher Azmudeh, Balli Group plc, Bank Julius Baer, Ms. Bita Daryabari, Mr.& Mrs. Mahmoud Faghihi,
Dr. Farhad Farjam, Mr. & Mrs. Mehdi Metghalchi, Dr. & Mrs. Ali Sattaripour, Mr. & Mrs. Majid Toutouni, Targetfollow Group Ltd.
Curated by
Dr. Sheila Canby, The British Museum
Summary
Shah ʿAbbas was a key figure in the creation of modern Iran. He was an influential king who ruled between 1587-1629 AD and whose legacy
continues to this day. He was a great military leader, ruling Iran at a time when it was renewing its new identity on the political stage and
positioning itself as a world power.
Shah ʿAbbas came to the throne in 1587 as the fifth ruler of the Safavid Dynasty. He was a man with a strong sense of personal piety;
though Shi'ism was declared the state religion of Iran in 1501, it was Shah `Abbas who consolidated its preeminence through the rule of l
aw and the suppression of heterodox Shi'i sects and extremist dervish orders. The clerics in the circle of Shah ʿAbbas established the
parameters of Shi'i orthodoxy and in so doing strengthened the role of the religious elite throughout Iran. Through trade, patronage
and diplomacy Shah ʿAbbas fostered good relations with Europe and ushered in a golden period in the arts. He gave many wonderful
gifts -exquisite carpets, stunning porcelain, illustrated manuscripts and beautiful silks - to key religious sites across Iran, and embarked
on major building projects.
The exhibition structure will focus on four major religious monuments as a context in which to explore the themes of his reign.
Isfahan
Isfahan became Shah ʿAbbas' new capital in 1598, the main administrative city and the seat of his power. In Isfahan he completed an
ambitious building programme, including the construction of his personal mosque (named after his father-in-law and spiritual advisor
Shaykh Luft Allah)
as well as new quarters for the Safavid elite and the Armenian merchant class which drove the Safavid
international silk trade.
It was also the site of the royal artists' workshop, led by the famous calligrapher 'Ali Riza ʿAbbasi. This section
of the exhibition will include a contemporary portrait of Shah ʿAbbas, produced by a Mughal artist,
rare examples of 'Ali Riza ʿAbbasi's calligraphy, Christian Armenian artefacts and luxurious gold-ground carpets.
[shown on BBC News]
Ardabil
Ardabil contains the tomb of Shaykh Safi, a fourteenth-century sufi mystic and ancestor of Shah ʿAbbas. The site contained a lodge
for dervishes who followed the Shaykh's teaching and was the dynastic shrine of the Shah's family. Shah ʿAbbas renovated the shrine,
gifting magnificent decorative objects, including precious Chinese porcelains, mosque lamps and important manuscripts.
Mashhad
Mashhad contains a holy shrine of huge significance. It is the burial site of Imam Riza, the only Shi'i imam, or infallible spiritual guide,
who is buried in Iran. The Shah himself walked in pilgrimage to the shrine from Isfahan, a distance of 600 miles. It houses the Shah's
collection of Qur'ans and Arabic scientific manuscripts, exquisite gold plaques that decorated the sarcophagus of the Imam, and other
elegant furnishings for the many chambers of the shrine. Objects that are analogous to those in the shrine, which cannot be lent, will
be shown in this section.
Qum
Qum is the shrine of Fatima Ma'suma, the sister of Imam Riza and a focus of Safavid female piety and spirituality. By the 17th century
many religious colleges were associated with the shrine, a situation that continues to this day. At the very end of his reign Shah ʿAbbas
took an interest in this shrine and after his death his successors donated exquisite silk brocades, calligraphy and manuscripts. Examples
of silks with gold and silver thread, carpets and metalwork like those at the shrine will be shown in this section.
Many of the objects in the exhibition have never been seen outside Iran.
Exhibition Catalogue
£25 paperback, £40 hardback
Available in the Museum shops or online at www.britishmuseum.org/shop
Tickets
Full rate 12 GBP, members free
Students 10 GBP
Unemployed 10 GBP
16-18 years 10 GBP
Under 16s free when accompanied by a paying adult
Family (2 adults and up to 3 children under 18) 25 GBP
Disabled person 10 GBP (+ free admission for a carer)
Season ticket (limited availability) 20 GBP
Groups 9.50 GBP per person (8-53 people, advanced telephone booking only)
Booking fees apply when booking online and by telephone
Timed ticket entry system
Exhibition operates on a timed ticket entry system. To guarantee the entry time of your choice advance booking is strongly recommended.
Box office
Enquiries
The Iran Heritage Foundation, 5 Stanhope Gate, London W1K 1AH. T. +44 20 7493 4766, F. +44 20 7499 9293, E. info@iranheritage.com
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