Photo exhibition celebrates Iranian culture, revolution

Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Ahmad Masoumifar promoted his country’s profile here when he launched a photo exhibition at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center gallery in Seoul on Tuesday. He also celebrated his country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

“Iran has one of the richest art and cultural heritages in the world, and possesses many paintings and architecture and metal work,” said Masoumifar at the opening of the three-day exhibition before a throng of diplomatic VIPs, Iranian students and culture promoters.

The exhibition is hosted by the Iranian Embassy here to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Iran’s revolution is celebrated on Feb. 11.

“Holding this exhibition celebrates the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. It is an important historical event for Iranians which demonstrated how the Iranian people could overcome dictatorship and obtain freedom and independence, and establish a new political system based on democracy,” the ambassador said in a speech delivered to the group of foreign envoys, a National Assembly representative and cultural leaders.

The “Iran, Land of Peace, Beauty and Art” exhibition introduces the culture of Iran through about 50 photographic images and a set of small handicraft works, and large coffee table books laid out for display.

The exhibition aims to boost cultural exchange and broaden mutual understanding between the peoples of Iran and South Korea.

Iran and South Korea have a long history of interaction. Since the Three Kingdoms period, as it was presented in a recently broadcast KBS documentary, “Kush Name” people from Persia traveled to South Korea.

Scholars uncovered passages in a pre-Islamic Persian epic poem, the Kushnameh, which contains thousands of lines describing the Silla Kingdom (B.C. 57 to A.D. 935).

The researchers believe many historical figures that are described in the poem had ties with the Silla Kingdom, such as Abtin, a Persian Sassanid prince betrothed to a Silla princess named Frarang.

By Philip Iglauer (ephilip2011@heraldcorp.com)