Iranian modern painting pioneer Mahmud Javadipur dies at 92

TEHRAN,Dec.1(MNA) -- Mahmud Javadipur, one of Iran’s modern painting pioneers, died of serious pelvis injuries and pulmonary embolism in Germany last week on Sunday at the age of 92. He had traveled to visit some of his friends and relatives in the country, one of his relatives told the Persian news agencies on Thursday. No further details were mentioned about his death. Born in Tehran, Javadipur became interested in art due to his father’s skills in creating carpet designs. He was among the second group of students who were admitted into the Fine Art Faculty at the University of Tehran in 1941. “We learned the classical methods from (Alimohammad) Heidarian, one of the disciples of Kamalolmolk (Qajar era painter),” Javadipur once said in an interview published in the Persian service of MNA in 2009. “We also learned about the world art through the classes held by a Tehran-based Parisian woman named Aminfar,” he added. In 1948, Javadipur established Apadana, Iran’s first modern art gallery and a center for art education with the help of his friends, Hossein Kazemi and Hushang Ajudani. “The gallery was always full of art lovers. The ordinary people were not familiar with modern art, but the young people liked it,” he said. Apadana shut down in 1951 due to some financial problems. Shortly afterwards, Javadipur won a scholarship to the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. He returned home in 1953 and began a career in art education at the Fine Art Faculty of the University of Tehran where he remained until 1957, when he was awarded a scholarship to the academy again for two years. Following the stint in Munich, he resumed his career in art education in the Fine Art Faculty. He created many works, some of which are on display at Iranian and foreign museums. Javadipur’s comprehensive study about Iranian felt was published in a book entitled “Iranian Felts” in 2005. In 2007, he was honored with the First Grade Order of Art and Culture, which was awarded by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Javadipur is survived by his daughters Niusha and Mania.