TEHRAN- A select exhibition of 600 artistic works created by artists from various fields to pay tribute to President Raisi and his companions has been put on display at the Aali Gallery of Tehran's Art Bureau. 

 The exhibition, titled “Servants of the Nation”, features posters, paintings, and photographs created by 24 active artists who were inspired by the sacrifices of those who served their country, Mehr reported on Tuesday. 

The selected works include 55 posters, eight designs, and 33 photographs of the funeral processions of the martyrs and are a testament to the artists' admiration and gratitude towards the martyrs, the report added. 

Additionally, an online gallery on the Art Bureau’s website also features some of these works.

The exhibition is a result of a nationwide campaign called "Revolutionary Poster Movement" which was launched to pay tribute to the martyrs. Many artists, including Mohammadreza Doostmohammadi, Saber Sheikh-Rezai, Hossein Ferdosian, Mohammad Afraz, Morteza Alishahi and several others, have contributed to this initiative.

According to Mohammad Zaruei, the head of the Visual Arts Center at the Art Bureau, the artists were inspired to create these works during their visit to the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad, where they were tasked with creating art pieces in honor of the Imam's birth anniversary. However, their efforts were overshadowed by news of a helicopter crash that occurred on the same night, which led them to create works that reflected their hope for better news about the president's health.

The exhibition is a testament to the artists' dedication to paying tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in serving their country, he added.

“It is a powerful reminder of the importance of art in expressing our emotions and paying homage to those who have given their lives for our freedom and independence.”

The exhibition will be running until July 6.

President Ebrahim Raisi was returning from a ceremony to officially open a new dam on the border between Iran and Azerbaijan on May 19 when his helicopter crashed in Varzaqan, northwestern Iran.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of not only the President but also Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and several high-ranking provincial officials, who were among those on board.

The loss of life has sent a wave of grief across Iran, with many government officials and ordinary citizens alike paying tribute to the victims of the crash. 

As news of the tragedy spread, condolences poured in from around the world, with leaders from various countries expressing their sympathy and support for the Iranian government and people.

SAB/