International Photo Contest in Intangible Cultural Heritage

Date: 14 December 2016

Intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from one generation to another, is recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, providing them with a sense of identity and continuity

The first international photography competition of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage in Context’ has called for submissions.

The competition is being organized by the Regional Research Center for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in West and Central Asia under the auspices of UNESCO, also known by its shorter name Tehran Intangible Cultural Heritage Center, which was established in November 2012.

In order to promote the concept of intangible cultural heritage and introduce it to a wider audience in West and Central Asia, the Tehran ICH Center has planned the international photo contest, according to the center’s website tichct.org.

Photographers and enthusiasts can participate, in particular those in the midst of local communities and experiencing, interacting and living with instances of intangible cultural heritage.

The subjects of the photo contest include the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills, as well as instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated with local communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals, recognized as within the context of their cultural heritage.

Intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from one generation to another, is regularly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

It is manifested, inter alia, in the following domains: oral traditions and expressions such as songs, lullabies, story-telling; performing arts like music, dance, traditional theater, puppet plays, painting and calligraphy; social practices, rituals and festive events like mourning ceremonies and weddings. It also includes knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe including medicine, traditional architecture, traditional navigation techniques and traditional methods in utilization of clean energy; and traditional mastery in crafts like pottery, felt-making, weaving arts, metalwork, jewelry and making of musical instruments.

Significance of Intangible Heritage
Participants are required to convey the significance of intangible cultural heritage by its occurrence in the context – the photos should depict the situation and surroundings in which a local community exists, works and interacts with nature.

Accordingly, places such as villages, farms, traditional workshops, traditional places for trading, performing art or a special social custom are included as instances of context.

The deadline for submission of entries is February 18, 2017. They should be sent to photo@tichct.ir. Selected photos will be announced from February 19-24. Finalists and prize-winning participants will be announced by the end of February.

The geographical area assigned to the Tehran ICH Center includes 24 countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan Republic, Bahrain, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Source: Financial Tribune

منبع: ایسنا

Ten Days with Iranian Photographers/ “Today’s Photography, New Opportunities”

Date: 13 December 2016

The fifth exhibition of 10 days with Iranian Photographers launched by the efforts of Iranian Photographers Association and participation of various photography societies and institutions opened on December 9 in the Iranian Artists Forum with the slogan: “Today’s Photography, New Opportunities.

The Society of Iran Cinema, the Photography Association of the Cultural Inheritance, the Photographers’ Society of the Revolution and Sacred defense, the Photographers’ Society of the house of theater, the Society of Negah Photographers and the Iranian House of Photographers will each present their works in this event.

In addition, there will be workshops, lectures and extensive photography
exhibitions held in the Iranian Artists Forum and other places during the fifth edition of 10 Days with Iranian Photographers.

The exhibition titled “Contemporary Man” and two other exhibitions of selected works of the previous third and fourth editions opened on 12 December in the 3 galleries of Arasbaran Farhangsara running until 20 December 2016.

Another exhibition will open on December 13 in Imam Ali Museum displaying works by Simon Ayvazian, Ali Qlamsiah, Masoud Masoumi and Manouchehr Yeganehdoust which will run until 23 December 2016.

Source: Farairan

Photos of 26 Iranian Women Photographers on Exhibition in Ankara

Date: 3 December 2016

The photo exhibition ‘26 Iranian Women Photographers’ curated by the photographer Amir Hussein Heshmati and in cooperation with Shirin Art Gallery is underway at CerModern Art Gallery in Ankara.

The selection of 159 photographs compiled by Heshmati brings together works of 26 women photographers from different generations and social groups and includes a wide range of subjects, the public relations of Shirin Gallery reported.

Each artist has presented several photos and expressed their individual viewpoint on different issues.

The exhibit was first held at Shirin Gallery in Tehran in October.
Mehrva Arvin, Abnous Alborzi, Baran Jafari, Somayeh Jafari, Zahra Khorami, Gohar Dashti, Maryam Rahmanian, Kamand Razavi, Kimia Rahgozar, Shadi Ghadirian, Hengameh Golestan and Yalda Moayeri are among the photographers whose works are on show.

CerModern has hosted the pioneers of contemporary Iranian photographic art such as Abbas Kiarostami and Ramin Mohtasham in the past.

The photos will be on display at the Turkish gallery through January 26, 2017.

Source: Financial Tribune

Nafiseh Motlaq “Investing Hope” among Young Afghan Girls

Date: 23 November 2916

“Hope Investing” is the name of Nafiseh Motlaq’s collection of photography of young Afghan girls training for performance in a circus in Kabul.

“Hope Investing” is an unique exhibition by Nafise Motlaq who gives us an insight to the young, progressive, ambitious and joyful Afghanistan. This project is about life of a group of young girls in a social circus in Kabul called MMCC global. The exhibition runs for 1 month in Istanbul, Turkey.

The opening ceremony is on 12th Nov. 5:30pm at FOTOGRAFEVİ Gallery .

In the artists’ statement, Nafise noted: “These girls are going to be a new generation of confident women and mothers who will educate their children differently. Part of my own childhood passed in the time of Iran-Iraq war. I was in their age when my playtime was full of horror of bombs and attacks. I deeply understand how valuable is for a child to be in this amazing center. We have seen so many sad stories from Afghanistan but this is story of hope and endeavor for change; it is about hope investing in Afghanistan”.
Based in Malaysia, Nafise Motlaq is a communication university lecturer and also an award winner documentary photographer from Iran. Women issues, interfaith dialogue and human rights are her major interests in photography.

Source: Meetup.com