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Islamic Art Now: Contemporary Art of the Middle East

Islamic Art Now: Contemporary Art of the Middle East310 recordsIn recent years, the parameters of Islamic art (particularly as defined by museums, commercial art galleries, and private collections) have expanded to include contemporary works by artists from or with roots in the Middle East. These artists draw inspiration from their own cultural traditions, using techniques and incorporating imagery and ideas from earlier periods. They are not so much reinventing Islamic art as they are repurposing it so that it becomes more clearly a vehicle for personal expression, freed from the constraints of patronage and functionality.

LACMA has only recently begun to acquire contemporary art of the Middle East within the context of our Islamic collection in the belief that the function, strength, and ultimate success and relevance of the collection should not be based solely on exploring this art as a means to better understand the past. The collection can also be seen as a way to build creative links between the past, the present, and the future. Abbas KowsariUntitledAbbas KowsariUntitledAbbasAt a pro Shah demonstration at the Amjadiyeh Stadium, a supporter puts a banknote with the Shah's portrait to her eye as a sign of allegiance.AbbasWrestlers at training, wearing old traditional trousers. The Zourkhaneh (house of strength) was donated by the Shah to Shaabane-bi-mokh (Shaabane the Brainless) to thank him for sending his troops against nationalist leader Mossadegh, during the 1952 coupAbbasCourtesans bow to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi during a Salaam ceremony celebrating the 58th anniversary of the Monarch in the Golestan Palace. On the right of the Shah is Amir Abbas Hoveyda, formerly Prime Minister and now Court Minister. On the left of phAbbasAt the tomb of Cyrus the Great, celebrations of the 2500th anniversary of the monarchy.AbbasAyatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's portrait is exhibited by the crowd attending the opening of the Tehran university.AbbasMen Burning a Portrait of the ShahAbdullah Al SaabAyb (Shame), from the series BoundariesAbdullah Al SaabTechnology Killed Reality, from the series BoundariesAbdulnasser GharemThe Path (Siraat)Abdulnasser GharemThe Stamp (Moujaz)

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