ID :
201695
Tue, 08/16/2011 - 16:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/201695
The shortlink copeid
Artist deems Chinese sculptures in Tehran a cultural invasion
TEHRAN, Aug. 16 (MNA) -- Iranian sculptor Qodratollah Aqeli, who has cooperated with the Tehran Municipality, deems the establishment of a number of Chinese sculptures in public places in Tehran a cultural invasion.
“I wonder why the officials call the importing of American or British goods a cultural invasion but replacing the Iranian sculptures with shoddy Chinese ones is an exception,” Aqeli told the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA).
“The art of sculpting is not supported very much in Iran. We have courses in the field of sculpture making at three universities. If state officials would support students and artists in this field, I believe that they would grant the society a very precious gift,” he said.
He said that some contractors in the Tehran Municipality have imported these sculptures from China for their “personal interests” and then have installed “these shoddy sculptures” in city.
“Importing the Chinese sculptures over the past year is an inauspicious event. However, we prefer not to oppose it in the media due to the support the municipality has given to art of sculpture,” he said.
Aqeli welcomed the installation of sculptures created by renowned foreign artists in city or in garden museums “just like the sculptures exhibited in the open area of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts.”
Despite the objection of Tehran’s Beautification Organization, the sculptures were located in different parts of Tehran and contractors held workshops under Mirdamad Bridge or Ayatollah Kashani highway, he said.
He said that the Chinese sculptures have also been placed in other cities including Karaj and Ahvaz.
The contractor imported benches from China before and now he has imported cheap sculptures from China without having any artistic sense about these objects, he said.
“Unfortunately, the officials compared the wages for a sculptor for making the artwork with the bid submitted by the contender, and this is not reasonable,” he lamented.
He said that he wonders why the Tehran Municipality, which supports sculpture biennials and expos, allowed some artists to do that.
“I wonder why the officials call the importing of American or British goods a cultural invasion but replacing the Iranian sculptures with shoddy Chinese ones is an exception,” Aqeli told the Iranian Labor News Agency (ILNA).
“The art of sculpting is not supported very much in Iran. We have courses in the field of sculpture making at three universities. If state officials would support students and artists in this field, I believe that they would grant the society a very precious gift,” he said.
He said that some contractors in the Tehran Municipality have imported these sculptures from China for their “personal interests” and then have installed “these shoddy sculptures” in city.
“Importing the Chinese sculptures over the past year is an inauspicious event. However, we prefer not to oppose it in the media due to the support the municipality has given to art of sculpture,” he said.
Aqeli welcomed the installation of sculptures created by renowned foreign artists in city or in garden museums “just like the sculptures exhibited in the open area of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Arts.”
Despite the objection of Tehran’s Beautification Organization, the sculptures were located in different parts of Tehran and contractors held workshops under Mirdamad Bridge or Ayatollah Kashani highway, he said.
He said that the Chinese sculptures have also been placed in other cities including Karaj and Ahvaz.
The contractor imported benches from China before and now he has imported cheap sculptures from China without having any artistic sense about these objects, he said.
“Unfortunately, the officials compared the wages for a sculptor for making the artwork with the bid submitted by the contender, and this is not reasonable,” he lamented.
He said that he wonders why the Tehran Municipality, which supports sculpture biennials and expos, allowed some artists to do that.
