TEHRAN -- The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMCA) is disclosing selected items from its international treasure-trove, some of which are being displayed for the first time.

In an exhibit named “A Manifestation of World Contemporary Art”, about 150 paintings are on the show out which 33 are being shown for the first time.
Works ranging from the impressionistic to the minimal art era by great artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Marc Chagall, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse and several others are now on show in the exhibit which opened Monday June 7 in different galleries of TMCA.
Several cultural figures attended the opening ceremony including TMCA museum curator Mahmud Shaluii and Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Hamid Shahabadi.
Shaluii expressed his gratitude to Shahabadi and said, “The deputy has supported all programs organized by TMCA and has encouraged us to continue our activities.”
He next paid tribute to Shahbazi-Moqaddam (first name not given) for his 30 years of efforts in preserving the museum’s precious collection, handing him a plaque of honor.
Iran is proud to possess one of the world’s best museums of art, said Shahabadi, adding, “This is due to the work that our Iranian artists have carried out over many years and it is now our responsibility to continue.”
“What is on display here is a portion of our national heritage which requires precise and diligent attention.”
He stressed that interactions with world artists should be possible through exhibitions and workshops, all of which helps promote our national art.
The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art plays host to over 4,000 items of international artworks mostly purchased over the years 1973 to 1977, as only a small number of Iranian artifacts have been added to the collection since the Islamic Revolution.
Photo: Photojournalists take shots from a Picasso portrait on display in the Manifestation of World Contemporary Art exhibit, which opened at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art on June 7, 2010. (Mehr/Abolfazl Salmanzadeh)