Event|رویداد
     
     
   
  By: Ali Kianmehr  
 

Thievery by Afsaneh Darvish

In August 2008, the Iranian TV channel aired Typography Exhibition in Iran’s Contemporary Art Museum. I saw my calligraphy project “Bismillah” on the wall. After a follow-up, a woman called Afsaneh Darvish had used my work exhibited under her own name. After correspondence tracking the public-relation of the Contemporary Art Museum, Association of Graphic Art, several parts of Ministry of Culture & Art and going to Court, I found no success to defend my rights.

 

  
   
 

Bismillah/ in exhibition, wall of Museum

 

  
 

In the turbulent atmosphere of the art in Iran, which no law or appropriate measuring for artistic values and the artists’ rights, it is not surprising when we heard the Ministry of Culture & Art say “your artwork is computer fonts, anyone can do it, and my son can also do it”. He also said “you cannot do anything” and “you know, this is Iran”.

  
     
   
 

Bismillah/design process by Ali Kianmehr

 

  
 

For people like me, trying to achieve my rights is impossible. There is no reference and institutional accountability exists for these problems. Therefore, an artist in Iran has no right or power for any of their design and artwork. 

 

  
  Bismillah  
 

Bismillah

 

  
  I’m always busy going to court, the lawyers’ office and other relevant places to achieve my rights. Consequently, is there any meaning to be an artist, when you have no rights?  
     
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  Ali Kianmehr  
  By: Ali Kianmehr  
 

Barratry by Professor Mahmood Arvahi Azar

In spring 2007, Dr. Mahmoud Arvahi Azar, professor of several Art Centers in Iran, including The University of Tehran, also the owner of Rozhinak Publications asked me to give him some of my calligraphy and typography art work to print in a book. In his first printed book, Graphic 1, he printed my “Bismillah”, without mentioning my name.

  
  Bismillah  
 

Bismillah/ in book Graphic1

 

  
  Maintain the respect due to workmanship, I did not say anything. One year later, in December 2008, Dr Arvahi Azar, printed yet another book Graphic 4, which contained two of my design projects, “Bob-Alvaej” and “Shahid”. These projects were published under his name and number, he also used them for two posters for The Ministry of Art & Culture and Council of Tehran. All those works were designed & registered by me.  
     
  BabalHavaej  
  Bob-Alvaej/printed in book Graphic 4  
  Shahid  
  Shahid/printed in book Graphic 4  
     
  Even though I went to court, and paid a large amount of money for lawyers, the authorities only mistreated me by behaving aggressively and making me look ridicules because I was craving for my rights. Hence of this, I did not achieve any success. The issue is that there is no copy-writing law in Iran. The convicted authority only smiles benignly. I’m always busy going to court, the lawyers’ office and other relevant places to achieve my rights. Consequently, is there any energy remaining for an artistic work?  
     
     
   
 

information of book Graphic 4

 

  
   
 

Bob-Alhavaej/design process by Ali Kianmehr

 

  
   
  Shahid/design process by Ali Kianmehr