Press release | september 2016

For immediate release

CONTEMPORARY IRANIAN ART GROUP EXHIBITION & FUNDRAISING AUCTION LOS ANGELES September 2016 MOP Foundation is delighted to present its upcoming fundraising program in Los Angeles from 12- 15 September 2016.

This program includes an art exhibition and live auction of artworks donated by contemporary Iranian artists to the Friends of MOP Foundation, as well as a panel discussion and a film premiere to be held at the Brown Auditorium of LACMA. This event is co-organised with the Art of the Middle East Department at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The exhibition is held in collaboration with Sotheby’s and will unfold in the presence of acclaimed Iranian artist and our guest of honour, Fereydoun Ave. The auction will be conducted by Andrea Fiuczynski, Chairman of the Americas for Sotheby’s.

Exhibition Preview & Cocktail Reception Sotheby’s, 2029 Century Park E #2950 LA

Panel Discussion & Film Premiere Portraying Fereydoun Ave’s Multidimensional Practice Co-organised with the Art of the Middle East Department at LACMA Brown Auditorium LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, LA

VIP Seated Dinner & Art Auction A private exhibition view and reception will precede the dinner Craft Restaurant, LA * This event is non-ticketed and by invitation only

12 September 7- 9 pm

13 September 3- 5 pm

15 September 7.30- 11.30 pm

MOP Foundation / Friends of MOP Foundation 16a Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9HB Tel: +44 20 7235 8026 | www.mopfoundation.com UK-registered charity #1104066 / US registered charity EIN no. 20-37773879.

This week of Contemporary Iranian Art marks MOP’s second venture into the Los Angeles art community.

SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A PRESS PASS FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS, PLEASE CONTACT: darya@mopfoundation.com THE EXHIBITION Alongside a spectacular work by Fereydoun Ave donated to the charity, and three lithographs by HIM Farah Pahlavi, this exhibition will feature artwork by 20 emerging and established Iranian artists based in Iran and the diaspora, and will be held at the Sotheby’s new exhibition space in Century Park East, LA. CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Shahriar Ahmadi Armin Amirian Abol Atighetchi Fereydoun Ave Andisheh Avini Mohammad Bahabadi Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar Mohammad Bozorgi Habib Farajabadi Farhad Fozouni

Dara Gallopin Ghalamdar Shokoufeh Malekkiani Marjan Nemati Fereydoun Omidi HIM Farah Pahlavi Iman Raad Shadi Rezaei Natasha Riboud Atousa Vahdani

THE OPENING The exhibition will open with a cocktail reception on the evening of the 12th September, 7.30- 9.30 pm and will remain on display until the 15th September 2016 daily, from 10 am- 5 pm.

PANEL DISCUSSION & FILM PREMIERE Portraying Fereydoun Ave’s Multidimensional Practice This exhibition will be accompanied by a panel discussion on Tuesday 13th September, from 3pm at the Brown Auditorium at the LACMA and is co-organized with the Art of the Middle East

Department at the LACMA. The talk will be moderated by Fereshte Moosavi, Art Director & Curator, MOP Foundation.

Panellists: Fereydoun Ave, Artist Dr Shiva Balaghi, Independent scholar and curator Roxane Zand, Deputy Chairman, Middles East and Gulf Region, Sotheby’s

MOP Foundation / Friends of MOP Foundation 16a Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9HB Tel: +44 20 7235 8026 | www.mopfoundation.com UK-registered charity #1104066 / US registered charity EIN no. 20-37773879.

The panel discussion aims to examine the profoundly influential and yet understudied phenomenon of multi-dimensionality in the practice of Fereydoun Ave. The fundamental role that he has played as artist, designer, curator, collector and… has not only had a great influence on the Iranian contemporary art but has also proposed different possibilities for artistic practice.

7 days out of 70 Springs; A Documentary About Fereydoun Ave This event will also feature an exclusive premiere of the documentary 7 days out of 70 Springs, a documented experience of Fereydoun Ave, by Iranian filmmakers Omid Bonakdar, Arash ZahediAsl and Keivan Alimohammadi.

Fereydoun Ave is considered one of the fore founders and chief proponents of Iranian Art. Not only has he enriched the modern and contemporary eras of Iranian art through his own practice, but also has been one of the most influential supporters and philanthropists for the Iranian creative community. Ave is one of the key and irreplaceable supporters of MOP Foundation since it’s very start.

VIP SEATED DINNER & FUNDRAISING AUCTION •

The VIP Seated Dinner & Live Auction is non-ticketed and by invitation only.

On Thursday 15th September, a VIP selection of collectors, gallerists and philanthropists will view the exhibition from 7 – 8 pm. This will be followed by a seated dinner and a live fundraising auction at the Craft Restaurant where the works will go under the hammer by a Sotheby’s auctioneer Andrea Fiuczynski, Chairman of the Americas for Sotheby’s. The dining venue chosen for this event has been designed by an award winning architecture firm and overlooks a beautiful four-acre park.

The dinner will be held in the presence of distinguished artist and guest of honour Fereydoun Ave. The keynote speaker for the evening will be established collector and philanthropist Mohammed Afkhami, as keynote speaker for the evening.

BENEFICIERIES The proceeds from this auction will benefit the Friends of MOP Foundation initiatives, providing much needed opportunities for talented individual artists inside and outside of Iran. Through its various programmes and activities, the charity strives to make a long-term advancement of Iranian art and culture worldwide.

• • • • • • •

Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize (MOP CAP) Different Perspectives on Modern & Contemporary Iranian art, A series of artists’ lectures and seminars, British Museum, London Artist Residencies, Delfina Foundation, London Curate Archive, an online residency open to international curators and cultural practitioners Educational workshops, Tehran Scholarships and educational grants for Iranian students at prominent art universities across the UK. Farhang Foundation, Los Angeles MOP Foundation / Friends of MOP Foundation 16a Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9HB Tel: +44 20 7235 8026 | www.mopfoundation.com UK-registered charity #1104066 / US registered charity EIN no. 20-37773879.

•

Ancient Iranian Language & Literature Studies Harvard University, Prince Alireza Pahlavi Fun

PLEASE SEE BELOW TO VIEW A SELECTION OF THE DONATED ARTWORKS AND FURTHER INFORMATION SHOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A PRESS PASS FOR ANY OF THE ABOVE EVENTS, PLEASE CONTACT: darya@mopfoundation.com

Fereydoun Ave Postcards from Iranestan, Postcard Sculpture 11, 2013 3D print on card mounted on foam board

31.5 x 39.25 inch

HIM Farah Pahlavi Left: Golfe du Mexique, 2011 Lithography Edition 1/10 42 x 33.8” Right: Lac Leman Suisse, 2011 Lithography Edition 1/10 42.5 x 30.3”

MOP Foundation / Friends of MOP Foundation 16a Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9HB Tel: +44 20 7235 8026 | www.mopfoundation.com UK-registered charity #1104066 / US registered charity EIN no. 20-37773879.

Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar Water Has Wings, 2016 Luster Photo Paper 31.5 x 47.2” Edition 2/3

Armin Amirian Analogy I, 2012 Digital C Print 27.5 x 39.3”

Edition 1/10

Abol Atighetchi Hobb (Love), 2010 Acrylic on Canvas 35.4 x 51”

Mohammad Bahabadi Justice Dead End, 2014 Mixed media, glass, bronze and money 32.8 x 30”

MOP Foundation / Friends of MOP Foundation 16a Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9HB Tel: +44 20 7235 8026 | www.mopfoundation.com UK-registered charity #1104066 / US registered charity EIN no. 20-37773879.

Fereydoun Omidi, Destruction, 2009 Oil on Canvas 70.8 x 59”

Shadi Rezaei I am not "I" Nor am I No. 5 2015 Acrylic and sewing on C-Print canvas 47.2 x 35.4”

Shahriar Ahmadi Untitled, 2009 from "Rumi in my Chalice" Series Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas 59 x 39.3”

Notes to Editors For press information please contact: Darya Alikhani darya@mopfoundation.com +44 (0)7831 882 884 MOP FOUNDATION Established in 2004, MOP Foundation promotes Iranian art and culture to a wider audience outside of Iran, and strives to make a notable contribution to its long-term advancement worldwide. This is accomplished by establishing programmes in modern and contemporary Iranian art, music, media and academia in partnership with world-class institutions.

MOP’s programmes include: • The Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize (MOP CAP); a global search for the next generation of Iranian visual artists.

• Art residencies for young Iranian artists in partnership with the Delfina Foundation.

• Curate Archive, an online residency open to international curators and cultural practitioners • Scholarships and grants in higher education at the Royal College of Art, London Film School and Goldsmiths University in London.

• Educational workshops, Tehran • Publication Grants • A series of artists’ panel discussions entitled ‘Different Perspectives on Modern and Contemporary Iranian Art’ in collaboration with the British Museum.

MOP Foundation / Friends of MOP Foundation 16a Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9HB Tel: +44 20 7235 8026 | www.mopfoundation.com UK-registered charity #1104066 / US registered charity EIN no. 20-37773879.

• The charity’s primary source of funding derives form the auction of artwork generously donated by established and emerging Iranian artists. Held in Europe, the Middle East and the United States, the success of these fundraising events relies entirely on the participation and support of artists and patrons alike. Sponsorships from organisations and individuals also support MOP’s various projects.

For more information visit our website at: www.Mopfoundation.com Facebook: @MagicofPersia Twitter: @MagicofPersia Instagram: @Mopfoundation

MOP Foundation / Friends of MOP Foundation 16a Lowndes Square, London SW1X 9HB Tel: +44 20 7235 8026 | www.mopfoundation.com UK-registered charity #1104066 / US registered charity EIN no. 20-37773879.