TEHRAN- The opening ceremony of the "Art Against War" exhibition, featuring works by Iraqi artists reflecting on the martyrdom of artist Mansoureh Alikhani, one of the victims of the Israeli regime’s atrocities against Iranian soil, was held on Sunday at the Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization in Tehran.

The exhibition features 24 works created by Iraqi artists, including pieces produced during a painting workshop dedicated to the memory of Martyr Mansoureh Alikhani and other victims of the Israeli assault, Mehr reported. 

Artists such as Zahra Hassan, Rasil Ahmed, Morteza Riyaz, Abdul Rahman Hussain, Sattar Jabbar Al-Zameli, Mohammad Kate’, Maryam Ahmed Hassan, Adel Khaled, Ahmed Samir, Farah Issam, Muslim Akeel, Zainab Haqi and Mohammad Al-Hasnawi participated, their works now on display.

During the opening ceremony, Seyyed Ahmed Shubbar, Director of the Bait al-Jamal Lil-Funun art center in Baghdad, said that Mansoureh AliKhani was a talented painter who was martyred during Israel’s recent attack on Iran. “In her honor, we organized a symposium titled ‘Art Against War’ this July in Baghdad.”

“Twenty-five Iraqi artists participated in this symposium, producing 25 works. The first exhibition of these works was held in Baghdad, and the second, at the invitation of colleagues from the Art Bureau, is taking place today in Tehran,” he added. 

Shubbar further noted the possibility of hosting similar exhibitions in other countries, emphasizing that such events require diplomatic coordination and official invitations.

Regarding the impact of the exhibition, he stated: “Art exhibitions like this serve as powerful reflections of significant events. Art is a universal language capable of conveying messages across borders through various forms, making it highly effective in delivering meaningful narratives.”

“Where souls meet at the crossroads of words and colors, young and veteran artists gathered in an open painting session that lasted seven days, giving meaning to 'Art Against War.' This was not merely a workshop but a moment for reflection and aesthetic protest — where canvases became battlegrounds, words became shields, and colors became shouts illuminating the darkness of war,” reads part of the exhibition statement. 

“We aimed to demonstrate that confrontation in war is not solely achieved through weapons; art can stand at the forefront and depict what artillery cannot erase. This empathetic experience was born out of solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and as a tribute to the Iranian artist Mansoureh AliKhani, who was martyred in this conflict, becoming a symbol spreading light through every stroke and splash of color,” it continues. 

“We believe this exhibition is more than an artistic event; it is a spiritual testament affirming that art endures and beauty can challenge ugliness. When combined with Arabic calligraphy, sculpture, painting, and weaving, the human spirit can declare that life is stronger than war, and in every painting, ink droplet, and intersecting line, humans are reborn anew.”

Back in July, the exhibition was also held in Baghdad. The Bait al-Jamal Lil-Funun art center hosted a week-long symposium dedicated to Iranian painter Mansoureh Alikhani. The event brought together Iraqi artists to honor her memory, condemn violence, and highlight art’s power in promoting peace, resistance, and cultural exchange amidst regional conflict.

Following the Zionist regime’s aggressive assault on Iran, Mansoureh Alikhani lost her life during Israeli attacks on residential areas in Tehran.

Alikhani was a student of master Kazem Chalipa and a prominent figure in the field of painting who was involved in training and research as well. She was creating a painting about Ashura, the day Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions were martyred in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, which remained unfinished due to her martyrdom.

Early Friday morning, June 13, a series of terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Zionist regime targeted Tehran and several other Iranian cities, resulting in the martyrdom of numerous military commanders, scientists, and innocent civilians. 

In response to the savage Zionist attack, the Islamic Republic of Iran launched Operation True Promise 3 on Friday night, unleashing a barrage of missiles against the occupied territories. 

The Israeli attacks targeted areas within Iran that were not military installations, resulting in the tragic loss of innocent civilian lives including women and children. The incident has sparked outrage not only within Iran but also among international observers.

SAB/