TEHRAN-A collection of paintings by the poet, writer, literary and art critic Javad Mojabi, 84, is displayed at an exhibition at Azad Art Gallery in Tehran, which opened on Friday.

This is the first time the veteran figure is showing his artworks. “I have been painting since I was 15. These works can be called my mental memories about the surrounding conditions; of course, a significant part of the works was designed in the past decade,” ISNA quoted him as saying.

According to Mojabi, he has been planning to hold such an exhibition for many years, and now he has put 75 of his works on display.

Among his many publications, Mojabi has written the two-volume book “Ninety Years of Innovation in Iran’s Visual Art”, which introduces 426 Iranian modern artists.

In the book, he has chosen artists who have been active for four or five decades and whose works have been accepted by the professional artists of the society.

He has called the book a personal narration of the history of art that is useful for researchers, students of art, and all artists.

Titled “70 Years of Painting,” the exhibition of Mojabi’s paintings will be running for two weeks at Azad Art Gallery located at No. 5, Salmas Square, Fathi Shaqaqi St., Valiasr St.

SS/SAB