The book covers a whole range of works, from calligraphic to abstract, figurative and installation works, by both well-known and emerging young talents. Artists of the Saqqah-Khaneh school, who looked to their own cultural heritage rather than that of Western Europe, provide the starting point, and include: Hossein Zenderoudi, Faramarz Pilaram, Massoud Arabshahi, Jaafar Roukhbakhsh, Koorosh Shishegaran. Also included are Sohrab Sepehri -- one of Iran's most respected poets -- as well as Shakiba and others. Younger artists such as Khosrow Hassan Zadeh, Bita Fayyazi and Ghazal Saurel explore artistic identity in contemporary Iran.
A comprehensive introduction to Iranian contemporary art is written by Rose Issa and provides invaluable information on the art scene in Iran, including artist biographies and interviews with Iranian art critics and specialists. Published in association with the Barbican Gallery, London.