WOMEN AND ART
April 14, 1998 - 0:0
In most European languages the words ``Garden'' and ``Paradise'' are, both related to the term ``paradaiza'', which in old Persian means ``an enclosure''. In Iran the garden is the most evocative image of supreme happiness that this world can offer; a pleasure to the senses and the soul. The carpet is an essential facet of the art of the living and therefore of the basic culture of the Iranian people.
A rug, with its wealth of color and symbolic designs, represents a kind of victory over the wilderness of the desert. The tree of life is the sign of eternity; and the pomegranate is the sign of abundance and the incarnation of happiness. There are also doves of peace, and parrots of love. A carpet so patiently woven is really an image of paradise.
The Iranian woman in history contributed to the delicate design, beauty and harmony of her family exactly in the same manner she created her artful Persian carpets. This way a woman prepared the way for the others' elevation to spiritual perfection. Since literature and arts are the most beautiful vessels for conveying cultural messages, one of the characteristics of the Iranian woman, throughout the ages, has been artistry.
The tribal dress of the rural Iranian woman, made by herself and looking like the most beautiful of paintings, tells of her tribe's cultural, artistic and historical roots. The artistry of tribal women can be seen on their dresses, rugs, tents, sugar cups, horse saddles, and other objects. Although the artistry of city dwelling women is less evident, you can hardly find an Iranian woman who is not adapt at one form of art or another.
Today, the Muslim Iranian woman is active in all artistic fields, such s poetry, story writting, playwritting, cinematography, graphics, music, sculpture and other forms of artistic expression. Rarely you would come across joint art exhibitions, where women are not participating alongside men.
A rug, with its wealth of color and symbolic designs, represents a kind of victory over the wilderness of the desert. The tree of life is the sign of eternity; and the pomegranate is the sign of abundance and the incarnation of happiness. There are also doves of peace, and parrots of love. A carpet so patiently woven is really an image of paradise.
The Iranian woman in history contributed to the delicate design, beauty and harmony of her family exactly in the same manner she created her artful Persian carpets. This way a woman prepared the way for the others' elevation to spiritual perfection. Since literature and arts are the most beautiful vessels for conveying cultural messages, one of the characteristics of the Iranian woman, throughout the ages, has been artistry.
The tribal dress of the rural Iranian woman, made by herself and looking like the most beautiful of paintings, tells of her tribe's cultural, artistic and historical roots. The artistry of tribal women can be seen on their dresses, rugs, tents, sugar cups, horse saddles, and other objects. Although the artistry of city dwelling women is less evident, you can hardly find an Iranian woman who is not adapt at one form of art or another.
Today, the Muslim Iranian woman is active in all artistic fields, such s poetry, story writting, playwritting, cinematography, graphics, music, sculpture and other forms of artistic expression. Rarely you would come across joint art exhibitions, where women are not participating alongside men.