Reza Moatarian

Reza Moatarian is well known for his photos of President Mohammad Khatami which regularly appear in leading Persian dailies such Iran and Sharq. His photos of the president and other news-related items represent the professional skills he has acquired in the art of photography over the years. He is now a distinguished photojournalist and at the same time a photographer for famous singers or composers of Persian music.
He has organized several exhibits of his photos which are always successful but he believes that he is not an artist himself.
In an interview with Iran Daily, he contended that artistic photos are those placed in the category of abstract art and are produced in studios. —They do not reflect the reality. In other words, they convey reality with impression. I never interfere with the reality and convey the object as it is.š
He pointed out that his works are currently on display in an exhibit in France called “Exhibit of Muslims– and that the second edition of the book on “Persian Music– which will be available soon bears a collection of his photos.
The attitude of consumerism towards journalistic photos disturbs him as it does all other photojournalists. Photographers would like to see a lasting impression of their works on the viewers that is why his works always have something to say in addition to the mere news reporting, he pointed out.
Elaborating on his ambition, he said that taking photos of prominent personalities would make the photographer famous. —During my career as a photojournalist, I would like to take a photo which will be recorded in history. I have not had such an opportunity yet,š Moatarian said.
He only laughed when asked if he was the president–s personal photographer. Reminiscing on the photos he has taken of President Khatami, he said, —Once, I took photo of the president when he was standing in front of a blue car. The car obstructed part of his face. Sharq newspaper printed this picture. The blue color of the car appeared just like the water as if the president was standing in a pool full of water. —It seems Sharq daily has drowned me,š the president told his cabinet colleagues after he saw the photo.
During a visit to this year–s press festival, the president had told the manager of Sharq daily pavilion in the festival jokingly —You drowned me in water!š
Moatarian recalled that he got his first camera from his uncle as a gift when he was a teenager and he won an award at a photo festival for university students. He never thought he would become a photographer. He entered the arts institute in 1989 and took up a career with Hamshahri newspaper in 1991 providing the first colorful daily with photos which were printed on the page “Sunflower–.
He said that political thought of the photojournalist is inseparable with the views he or she is focusing through the camera–s lens.
Moatarian has not studied professional photography at a university but learned photojournalism from experience.
Asked to introduce himself, he always says, —I–m 33-year-old. I was born in one spring day in Tehran.š
Moatarian has organized several exhibits of his works in France, Syria as well as within the country and he won top awards at three press festivals.
While studying in the arts institute, he began working with Reza Darvishi, the author of the 12-volume book “Persian Music–. The cooperation has lasted 12 years during which time he and Darvishi toured many Iranian cities to compile folk songs. The first volume of the book includes 700 photos by Moatarian as well as his findings about songs produced by string musical instruments.
The book has won the award of the US-based Musicology Research Institute.

TEHRAN, Sept. 11--Curator of Iran–s National Museum has announced the readiness of museums to chemically treat historical objects which are in the possession of individuals free of charge.
Mohammad Reza Kargar told Fars news agency that according to a plan put forward by Iran–s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, all museums across the country will help owners protect their antiques by chemically treating them against corrosion and pests. —They can even give their antiques on loan to the museums,š Kargar added.
Elaborating on thefts of artifacts from museums or some historical sites, he also said that plundering of antiques has always posed a serious threat to historical and cultural objects and new measures have constantly been adopted to counter the theft of historical objects or, at least bring it down to a minim.
Pointing to the international convention on the return of historical objects which are stolen from museums or historical sites, he said that the Interpol is obligated to seize such objects wherever they are detected and return them to their country of origin.
On the physical protection of antiques, he said that two methods are in common use. —One is to check and reinforce the walls, doors, windows and other entry points while the other is to install surveillance systems in places where historical objects are maintained,š he added.
Announcing that no theft has taken place in the National Museum in the past 20 years, Kargar said that all the protective systems should be checked each year and old systems should be replaced by new ones.
The Third Five-Year Development Plan (2005-2010) stipulates that no museum will be inaugurated unless protective and surveillance systems are first installed, he pointed out.
All historical objects, whether in Tehran or other cities, are of equal importance and no discrimination should be made in this respect, Kargar concluded.

Pari Saberi

TEHRAN, Sept. 11--Iranian stage director, Pari Saberi, will be presented the French Literature and Art Cavalier Badge, which is considered the highest award of the country in the field art and culture, in October.
According to ISNA, Saberi, who is the first Iranian woman to win the award, was also awarded UNESCO–s Avicenna Badge last year for two performances in France. Avicenna Badge is considered one of the country–s greatest awards.
French Literature and Art Cavalier Badge will be awarded to Saberi in a ceremony attended by French ambassador to Iran on October 22.
Confirming the news, Saberi told ISNA that her main duty is to promote the level of culture in the society and the badge is in fact recognition of the country–s cultural community.
Earlier, the renowned Iranian film director, Abbas Kiarostami won the French Art and Literature Cavalier Badge and in an announcement in 2003, the French Embassy described him as one of the most outstanding filmmakers in the past several decades.
Mohammad Ali Sepanlou and Reza Seyyed Hosseini, a poet and writer respectively, are also among the artists that have received the French Academic Palm Cavalier Badge.
Seyyed Hosseini said that the badge is awarded to those who have made contributions to that country–s culture.
Saberi, who has spent her youth in France, graduated from the French Technical and Cinematography High School of Paris and has so far directed more than 20 plays including “Sea Gull–, “Three Figures in Search of Writer– and “Goats– Island–.

TEHRAN, Sept. 11--Concurrent with the anniversary of Prophet Muhammad–s (PBUH) ascendancy to prophethood, called the “Mabath– the Third International Exhibition on Middle East Tourism will be held at the Shiraz International Fairground from September 13-16.
According to ISNA, the event aims to introduce the potentials of Fars province in tourism and present its natural sceneries, social features, history, anthropology as well as its recreational potentialities. A seminar on the sidelines of the exhibition title of “Most Important Persian Gulf and Middle East Tourism Market– will focus on ways of developing the province–s tourism attractions and creating national solidarity.
The event will be inaugurated in a ceremony attended by cultural and tourism specialists, ambassadors and cultural attachŽs as well as consuls from a number of countries on September 13 which coincides with the auspicious Mabath.
The Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Fars province announced that Malaysia, Cuba, Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and India will take part in the event. Participating countries in the exhibition will organize 14 pavilions and will also visit local tourism agencies, airlines, accommodation facilities and food industries.
Organizing handicrafts workshops and workshops for cooking and serving traditional meals, performance of local devotional and musical ceremonies by artistic groups from Golestan, Kohgilouyeh-Bouyerahmad, Khorasan, Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces are among the programs included on the agenda.
An exclusive workshop titled “Principles of Marketing and International Tourism– will be attended by directors of tourism agencies and accommodation facilities will be held on September 16.

TEHRAN, Sept. 11--Vahdat Hall will host foreign troupes at the 10th Tehran International Puppet Festival this year.
Reporting this, ILNA said the play 'Lidad, the Lawn Mower' from Canada will be performed in the hall on September 13-14 while an Indian play will be staged here on September 15.
Meanwhile, two plays from Armenia, 'Nichi, the Little' and 'Little Aida's Flowers', will be performed in the hall on September 17-18 respectively.
In another report, Fars news agency quoted the Public Relations Department of the Center for Performing Arts as saying that a group of Turkmen artists will perform the great concert of puppets in this year's International Puppet Theater Festival.
The concert which will be performed to the accompaniment of puppet dances and songs will last for 45 minutes.
Turkmen artists intend to perform the concert immediately after the puppet show titled 'Aq Maral'--a story of a man who falls in love with a jinn in the form of a woman.
The 10th Tehran International Puppet Theater Festival will open on September 13.