Craft Exhibition in Semnan Showcases Iranian Folk Art and Traditions

An exhibition featuring over 80 works inspired by Hadith al-Kisa has opened in Tehran. These pieces were created by Iranian female artists and were displayed at the Haneh Art Bureau Gallery on Friday, marking the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hazrat Fatimah Zahra (SA).

Hadith al-Kisa recounts the incident where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gathered his close family members under a cloak. According to Islamic tradition, this narrative emphasizes the special status of the Prophet's family, known as Ahl al-Bayt.

The visual arts exhibition brings together works from 50 female artists specializing in calligraphy, illumination, poetry, and photography. As reported by Mehr, the pieces offer diverse artistic interpretations of Hadith al-Kisa.

Hamideh Ghivi, a member of the Iranian Calligraphers Association, noted that this exhibition is being held for the second consecutive year. It features more than 80 works created by members of the 'Women of the Sun's Design' creative group.

Explaining the main theme of the exposition, Ghivi stated that the text of Hadith al-Kisa is rendered in Naskh calligraphy, while its Persian translation is written in Nastaliq and Shekasteh Nastaliq scripts.

Furthermore, the exhibition includes paintings inspired by this narrative, as well as poems written by the women members of the group. These literary works were transcribed by calligraphers, while illuminators prepared ornamental title pages for an upcoming illustrated book.

The exhibition poster also features a photograph taken by one of the group's photographers, reflecting the collaborative nature of the project. Ghivi emphasized that the 'Women of the Sun's Design' group has organized several collective exhibitions over many years.

Among previous projects of the group was a seminar held at Azadi Tower in Tehran last Muharram. During this event, participating artists transcribed Ziyarat Ashura, a religious text recited in memory of Imam Hussein (AS) and the martyrs of Karbala. This work was subsequently published as an illustrated book.

Ghivi added that the organizers plan to publish the results of the current exhibition in the form of an illustrated volume, compiling the calligraphic, poetic, pictorial, and illuminated works presented at the exhibition.

The exhibition started on November 13 and will run until November 17.

The Fund for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan (ACDF) has brought artifacts originating from the ancient settlements of Khalchayan and Afrasiab to the Global Antiquity research exhibition in Milan (Italy).

This exhibition is being held at the Fondazione Prada cultural center in Milan. This foundation was established in 1993 by Italian designer Miuccia Prada and entrepreneur Patrizio Bertelli.

The organizers of Global Antiquity invite visitors to view exhibits that demonstrate the artistic, trade, and political connections that existed between peoples and cultures from the Mediterranean to Asia over more than 1600 years.

The exhibition features over 150 works of art and historical artifacts, covering the time period from 600 BCE to 1000 CE. The curator of the exhibition, Salvatore Settis, believes that ancient heritage serves as 'a key unlocking access to the diversity of modern cultures.'

Eight museum items from the collection of Uzbekistan were presented, including a clay figurine of a prince from Khalchayan (Surkhandarya region), dating from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE, as well as seven chess pieces from Afrasiab (Samarkand region).

The artifact from Surkhandarya is executed in the sculptural technique of the Kushan era, which combines Bactrian, Achaemenid, and Hellenistic traditions. As for the 8th-century bone figure from Samarkand, it is one of the earliest surviving examples of figurative chess pieces. Historians suggest that the spread of chess is related to cultural exchange between India, Persia, Central Asia, and subsequently Europe.

The exhibits representing Uzbekistan are displayed alongside collections from institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Paul Getty Museum, the British Museum, the Louvre, the Museo Ghi, the Prada Museum, the Vatican Museums, the Pompeii Archaeological Park, and others.

Global Antiquity is part of a broader study of ancient art that the Prada Foundation began in 2015 with the projects Serial Classic and Portable Classic, and later continued with the Recycling Beauty exhibition in 2022. The official website of Fondazione Prada emphasizes that the main goal of this comprehensive study is to view ancient art not only as past heritage but also as an important factor influencing the present and future.

The Global Antiquity exhibition is scheduled to run in Milan until March 1, 2027.

Semnan province, possessing ancient history and significant cultural heritage, is a repository of rich oral traditions, local narratives, customs, and traditional arts of Iran.

These intangible values, passed down from generation to generation, reflect the lifestyle and historical identity of the local population. To ensure the cultural heritage of the province is preserved for future generations, it is crucial to document and conserve it.

Fatemeh Zahra Hagighi, a tourism lecturer and postgraduate student at Semnan University, emphasized the importance of oral heritage as a means for the younger generation to connect with their ancestors and understand the historical and cultural roots of their homeland. This was reported by Miras Aria on Monday.

The historical significance of Semnan is confirmed by numerous archaeological and architectural monuments, such as the Tarikhaneh mosque in Damghan, Mirak, and the Hissar archaeological mounds, as well as the thousand-year-old Seljuk minaret in Semnan itself. These structures demonstrate the province's long-standing role in Iranian history. Nevertheless, Hagighi stresses that preserving only historical buildings is insufficient.

It is also necessary to document the traditional way of life, clothing, crafts, customs, and personal memories of the past. One effective method is conducting oral history interviews with elderly residents, traditional masters, experienced artisans, local researchers, and cultural heritage activists.

With the consent of participants, interviews should be recorded in audio or video format, carefully transcribed, classified, and stored in accessible archives. Collaboration with community councils, local associations, universities, and heritage preservation activists can help identify individuals whose knowledge and memories represent a valuable link to the past.

The linguistic diversity of the province is another important aspect of its cultural identity. Semnan is often described as a 'sea of accents' because many languages and dialects are observed here, which can differ significantly between neighboring settlements and villages.

For instance, distinct linguistic traditions can be heard in Semnan, Mahdishahr, historically known as Sangsar, and Shahmirzade. Similar variations exist in various villages and districts, including Shahrud and Sorche. This diversity is a valuable cultural resource that requires systematic documentation.

Recording daily conversations, local vocabulary, proverbs, folk songs, stories, and traditional expressions could contribute to creating a comprehensive archive of the province's linguistic heritage. Without such efforts, some dialects may gradually disappear as the younger generation begins to use more common languages.

Hagighi also insists that preserving oral heritage is a collective responsibility. By documenting the memories and experiences of the older generation, communities can strengthen their cultural identity and ensure that their traditions, knowledge, and historical narratives continue to reach future generations.