This symposium examines political economies of contemporary art within Iran and abroad—its production and distribution, the mechanisms of circulation in Iran and the United States, and how ideologies and their attendant policies shape transfer of knowledge and praxis from one context to another.

Convened by curator and scholar Sandra Skurvida, the symposium features a keynote lecture by Tehran-based art historian and editor Hamid Keshmirshekan; “Art Practice and Dissemination in Contemporary Iran: Discourses and Mechanisms," followed by three topical panel discussions:

On the discursive and the production and exchange of knowledge via text and media channels, with contributions by U.S.-based academics Shiva Balaghi (Brown University) and Babak Elahi (RIT), and Tehran-based writer and editor Sohrab Mahdavi.

On the curatorial strategies and institutional policies concerning contemporary art in Iran and the United States, featuring presentations by New York-based curator Fereshteh Daftari (co-curator of Iran Modern), independent curator from Tehran Azar Mahmoudian, and researcher from Venice Anna Vanzan.

On the artistic praxis and its implications in societies, featuring contributions by artist and producer from Tehran Sohrab Kashani, the transnational artists' collective Slavs and Tatars, and anthropologist and media theorist Roxanne Varzi (University of California, Irvine).

Hamid Dabashi (Columbia University) will summarize the symposium's proceedings in an endnote.
 

Copresented by Asia Society and the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

For a full schedule, bios and abstracts click here.

In conjunction with the exhibition Iran Modern, on view September 6, 2013 through January 5, 2014.

View all Iran Modern-related events