Obligatory Military Service
Mohsen Art Gallery
curated by Farid Jafari Samarghandi
Opening Friday 14th May 2010 from 4 to 8 pm.
The exhibition continues till Wed. 26thMay.
Visting Hours: 4 to 8 pm
Discussion Panel: Mon. 17th May 2010 from 6 to 8 pm
Performances titled ‘Public Duty’ by Amir Mobed and ‘ Feast ‘ by Ali Zanjani on Friday 14th May 2010.
Artists:, Ali Ettehad, Saba Alizadeh, Mehrdad Afsari, Pooya Abbasian, Amir-hossein Bayani, Safeddin Emami, Babak Kazemi , Peyman Hooshmandzadeh, Shaadi Ghadirian, KLT Group , Afra Nobahar, Farrokh Norooni, Amir Mobed, Meysam Mahfouz, Solmaz Panahi, Homayoun Sirizi, Rasul Soltani, Peyman Shafieezadeh, Shamim Shahramnia, Iman Safaei, Nastaran Safaei, Ali Zanjani, Amir- hossein Zanjani
Helmet, cartridge-belt, boots, rifle, batons, trench, parade, troop-inspection, guard duty, compassionate leave, war, peace. These are terms which remind many of us of obligatory military services. Military services is one of the main preoccupations of the youth of this country and although some consider it one of the best times of their life, nearly everybody is after escaping this sacred service.
This exhibition and the current artworks are all works of artists, who have, at certain stage of their personal or professional life, been challenged by soldiers, military services, war or whatever relates to the military and militia making use of these concepts in their works: from war invalids to the desire of martyrdom, from leaving one’s home and beloved to temporary leave for joining young girls attracted to courageous soldiers; from the concept of ‘soldier’ when he faces the foreign usurper in order to defend his country and its people to the time when he confronts people and looks at them in the eyes.
In societies where the voice of democracy is heard from far away, the existence of professional army can create a government within government. Military values such as unconditional obedience of order and hierarchy of command can easily turn into a model of managing society thus causing ‘sar-bazi’ (i.e. military services, literally meaning losing one’s head and being prepared to sacrifice one’s life for motherland and its people) to lose its meaning.
In this collection you will find themes with a poetical bitterness based upon the role of military services within Iranian life: from defending the country to being away from family, all from a social outlook. You are confronted with images of anonymous soldiers in irreversible situations whom only history will judge. It is possible that the viewer, based on his/her memories, creates patriot heroes out of them or ordinary examples or even antiheros. In this collection of works you see different viewpoints: some simple, others bitter and realistic, still others romantic and poetical. The criterion of selection has preserably been a clear, frank and transparent viewpoint being present in artworks.
It is sometimes desirable to speak in slogans, especially when there are people who await your voice.
Farid Jafari Samarghandi