Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan Inaugurates Iran Inside Out at The Farjam Collection in DIFC

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research inaugurated The Farjam Collection’s latest exhibition Iran Inside Out on March 15 in the company of the Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) His Excellency Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer.

In its first appearance outside the United States, Iran Inside Out presents a selection of the exhibition’s most arresting works alongside some of the finest examples of contemporary Iranian art drawn from Dr Farjam’s private collection. 

Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer, Governor of the Dubai International Financial Centre said: “Iran Inside Out provides art lovers in Dubai a wonderful opportunity to savour a compelling and diverse selection of Iranian contemporary art. As part of creating a culturally rich experience within the Dubai International Financial Centre, we are keen to support exhibitions such as these that offer opportunities for audiences to appreciate contemporary art from around the world. Exhibitions like this also contribute to Dubai’s larger efforts to promote public engagement with art and integrate art and culture more deeply into its social fabric.”

Dr Farhad Farjam, Owner of The Farjam Collection commented: “This exhibition is particularly close to my heart as both a collector and patron of contemporary Iranian art. I am delighted to host such a rich artistic collection from a wide spectrum of artists working both in and outside Iran.”

Around 50 artworks are exhibited, including paintings, sculptures and works in mixed media, as well as photography. The result is a richly varied portrait of 27 contemporary artists challenging the conventional perceptions of Iran and Iranian art.

Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath of Art Reoriented, Iran Inside Out examines the ways in which artists working in and outside of Iran today reconcile cultural and geographical distances with the search for individual artistic expression. Of the artists on display, some reside in Iran, including Farhad Moshiri, Khosrow Hassanzadeh, and Farideh Lashai, while others such as Shiva Ahmadi, Sara Rahbar and Rokni Haerizadeh find themselves interspersed in the Diaspora. 

Iran Inside Out will run for three months, and will be accompanied by a range of educational programmes and materials offered by The Farjam Collection.  All of The Farjam Collection’s exhibitions and programmes are free and open to the public.