TEHRAN-An exhibition of artworks by the veteran Iranian-Armenian artist Grigor Yaghoubi was launched at the Iranology Foundation in Tehran on February 19.

At the opening ceremony, Mohammad Hossein Rajabi Davani, the president of the Iranology Foundation, called the event a commemoration of a lifetime of efforts by Yaghoubi in the field of painting and considered Armenians to have a brilliant history in the field of art of Iran, ILNA reported.

Also speaking at the event, Razieh Yasini, Deputy of Research at the Foundation, pointed out the brilliant history of Armenians in Iran and considered Armenian compatriots to be hardworking in the field of culture and art. 

She further listed the services of Armenians in the field of social development, culture, art, translation, and architecture from the Safavid era to the present day and named artists, architects, and writers such as Karapet Derderian, Vartan Hovanessian, Paul Abkar, Ovanes Ohanian, Loris Tjeknavorian, and Marcos Grigorian. 

She emphasized that Yaghoubi worked in the context of the rise of modern art in Iran, while his art shows the effects of Iranian culture and the atmosphere in which he grew up. “His paintings represent the important events of Iran's history such as the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, as well as Iran's culture, art and architecture, although gradually his style tends to abstraction and moves away from naturalism,” Yasini noted.

For his part, Yaghoubi, 87, thanked the Iranology Foundation, the organizers, and those present at the ceremony, and wished happiness to the lovers of art and culture. Then he was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his years of effort by the Iranology Foundation.

Yaghoubi is one of the most notable Armenian abstract painters there is. He is also known for his natural landscape oil masterpieces.

His paintings have been showcased in exhibitions all over the world in 50 different countries including Greece, England, France, and the U.S.

The Iranology Foundation was founded in 1997 to create a center for students and professors who share a deep interest in Iran and its rich history and culture. The foundation seeks to give people worldwide a comprehensive notion of the Iranian civilization and is willing to cooperate with foreign Iranologists in this regard.

The exhibition of paintings by Grigor Yaghoubi will run until March 5 at the Iran Art Hall of the Iranology Foundation located at Iranshenasi St., South Sheikh Bahayi St.

SS/