TEHRAN- The winners of art exhibition "Patterns of Friendship", a joint painting event between Iran and Russia, were celebrated during the opening ceremony, which was held at the Academy of Watercolor and Fine Arts of Sergey Andriyaka in Moscow on Wednesday. 

Organized by the Iranian Embassy, the Academy of Watercolor and Fine Arts of Sergey Andriyaka, and supported by the Russian Ministry of Culture, the exhibition showcases 100 artworks by Iranian artists and 100 pieces by Russian artists, all selected by the jury. Additionally, 40 artworks from prominent masters are also displayed.

The ceremony was attended by Kazem Jalali, the Ambassador of Iran to Russia, and Masoud Ahmadvand, Iran's cultural attaché in Moscow, along with several cultural activists and artists from both countries, IRNA reported on Saturday.

The exhibition aims to convey the essence of each country through art. Many of the showcased paintings depict urban landscapes, historical and folkloric scenes, national cuisine, notable personalities, and everyday life in both nations.

For his part, Jalali expressed the significant role culture plays in strengthening ties between states. "Such events are very important because stable relations between countries are built on culture and the language of art, fostering closeness and mutual understanding between peoples. Russia and Iran are both cradles of artistic culture and share much in common, which brings our peoples closer together," he stated.

Highlighting the intercultural exchange, Ahmadvand said: "Russian artists created works reflecting their perceptions of Iran, while Iranian artists did the same regarding Russia.”

The exhibition will run for one month in Moscow, followed by showcases in Saint Petersburg and Kazan for one month each. The selected artworks will then return to Iran, where they will be displayed in Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz.

The President of the Academy of Watercolor and Fine Arts of Sergey Andriyaka also commented on the significance of the event, expressing, "Previously, we hosted exhibitions that introduced viewers to Russia's history and culture. Today, it is an honor for us to showcase the works of Iranian painters." Vyacheslav Zhivakov emphasized that the artworks illustrate the high caliber of artists from both countries.

He also noted that the festival could serve as a renewed foundation for strengthening the ties between the peoples of the two great nations, Russia and Iran, and stand as a prominent symbol of friendship between the two influential countries.

Festival participants also spoke on the similarities between the cultures of the two nations. Svetlana Zubareva, a winner of the festival, highlighted the shared architectural elements in her works, which depicted the inhabitants of Qom against the backdrop of the holy shrine of Hazrat Masumeh (SA), sister of Imam Reza (AS) - the eighth Shia Imam. "People are the main wealth of any country. Iran's architecture is beautiful in itself, and the architectural styles in our countries have a lot in common. Elements such as domes, arches, and towers are present in both cultures, showing that we are very close," she reflected.

The ceremony concluded with tributes to notable participants, including awards for winners, which included cash and non-cash prizes such as travel to Iran and Russia. Moreover, Iranian ambassador honored Russian artist Maria Zenkova for her portrait of the late President Ebrahim Raisi, while Iranian artist Fatemeh Ashtiani was praised for her painting of Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

Photo: Kazem Jalali, the Ambassador of Iran to Russia (L), stands alongside Russian painter Maria Zenkova at the opening ceremony of the “Patterns of Friendship” art exhibition in Moscow on Wednesday, where Zenkova's portrait of the late President Ebrahim Raisi takes center stage.

SAB/