Shojaei Tabatabai: Fajr Visual Arts Festival to sell artists’ works

Seyed Massoud Shojaei Tabatabai, secretary of the cartoon and caricature section of the 14th Fajr Festival of Visual Arts, told a Fars News Agency reporter about how this event will be held: We need interdisciplinary art and contemporary art, because in this section something special happens that is the artist’s interaction with the audience. In many countries of the world, this interaction has been considered and it is said that the audience of the work of art should be separated from the special mode and become the general audience and all people.

Referring to the Venice Biennale, he said: “Because of the special attractions of this biennial, people from all over the world go to see it, and holding this Biennale has been able to create a special reputation for the city of Venice in the current world.” The great thing that is being done is that works of art are on display throughout the city and public spaces, and not just the specific audience for the works of art.

Shojaei Tabatabai continued: In our country, when biennials are not held regularly, what space is there for an artist to be able to show his abilities? If the Fajr Festival is held from the perspective of contemporary art, some branches such as cartoons and caricatures will be eliminated, while the biennial of caricatures has not been held for several years. Therefore, as much as we need a contemporary approach, there should be a space to present the works of all fields of art.

Explaining that solving some problems can bring the Fajr Festival of Visual Arts to the destination we need, he explained: “One of the important points is to know what is the purpose of holding the festival?” Is it possible for only a few artists to show their work to a specific audience in a specific space and then everything is over? A common occurrence in festivals around the world is that after the end of the festival, communication and interaction with artists continues so that they can achieve good results with them.

* Showing the artist’s work should lead to improving his livelihood

Shojaei Tabatabai continued: The second point is to see what happens in this festival. Has an archive and database of artists ever been created to record their portfolios, web pages and websites, and to create a way for the audience to connect with the artist? In various fields, especially fields such as illustration, graphics, etc., which are related to the client, when the artist’s work is seen, a bed must be provided for his works to be seen and conditions must be provided that solve the artist’s livelihood. To be created. Unfortunately, these issues have always been neglected and nothing has been done by any body.

The artist continued: “In the field of visual arts, we have professionals who do not participate in the festival, and often young people who like to be seen participate in this event.” But the veterans we have in every field should also be mentioned and their work should be with the youth so that the festival will have good feedback.

Shojaei Tabatabai added: “Another point about the output of the festival is whether we just want young people to show their works somewhere for a limited time and then everything is over?” One of our concerns is that I wish the works were not limited to a specific exhibition. Mr. Nejabati had suggested that we display a selection of works in the public space of the city so that these works could be seen by all people. It is even good that some of them become products that enter people’s lives.

The cartoonist continued: “I think the Fajr Festival of Visual Arts should sell the works of artists.” Our problem is that art is far from people’s lives, but the works of the festival must be put on sale in order to create a cycle and enter the art economy. The Fajr Festival of Visual Arts is a good platform in which there is a collection of good works by artists from various disciplines, and good works that have been judged can be priced by experts, so that we can enter the discussion of art economics in the future.

Shojaei Tabatabai added: “Young artists can not participate in events such as art auctions, but if there is such an opportunity to sell works at the festival, the path of art will be paved for them.” Although there are some difficulties with this, it can be done with effort, and the artists are very happy about it.

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