‘I must continue until I die’: inside the fight to bring Iran’s thriving art scene to the world
Iranian artist Elham Issari’s search for affordable white paint illustrates how war and economic pressure have disrupted artists’ lives and work. In response, curator Dario Duran and his colleagues created Continuum: Artist Relief for Iran, an online initiative intended to connect artists working inside Iran with international buyers and institutions.
The article says airstrikes and conflict beginning on 28 February led galleries to close, exhibitions to be cancelled and shipping routes to be severed, undermining the domestic art market artists rely on. Many have struggled to pay rent or find materials; one tube of white paint was offered to Issari for 5m tomans, about $36. Duran, who was displaced with his visiting parents, says immediate sales became more important than exhibitions or archiving.
- War has disrupted Iran’s art market and artists’ livelihoods.
- Continuum aims to connect artists in Iran with international buyers.
- Materials and cancelled exhibitions have left artists under pressure.
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Iran’s artists work in a country where conflict and economic pressure can affect both daily life and access to basic materials. Many rely on galleries and exhibitions at home to show their work and earn money, while international sales can be difficult to arrange.
Curator Dario Duran and his colleagues set up Continuum: Artist Relief for Iran to connect artists working in Iran with buyers and cultural organisations abroad. The effort matters because income from art can help artists meet immediate costs, while international links can bring their work to wider audiences.
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