Spring 2019

Take good care of your own personal poster collection archives!

During the first decade after the millennium, after having passed a very twisted and winding road, graphic design in Iran had finally found relative stability. It resolved major technical problems one by one and found an audience. It formed a sizeable a worthy guild led by well-known pioneers and a board of trustees.

The economic boom that followed the Iran/Iraq war created real marketing opportunities. Also the new relaxed and unified stance in the ranks of our nation’s leaders created a proper atmosphere for advertising. At present cultural works with an unspoken agreement have steered the possible borders toward economic growth. This also includes an increase in the number of galleries that exhibit the works of artists. Soon, the path to a new wave of commerce will arrive which will bring with it a new era.

In 2008, ten years after Azad Art Gallery opened, not only was there no commercial atmosphere but what existed was based on other necessities. The need to exhibit experimental works of art in an independent atmosphere was separated from idea of selling and an independent atmosphere to allow for criticism and dialog and to create relationships between artists and between artists and their audience. Without a doubt, graphic design had gained the possibility to increase its influence and become more prevalent in our society, and as a school of contemporary art it caught the attention of Azad Art Gallery. We became closely acquainted with the work of one of the best graphic designers of those times, Reza Abedini. His friendship and innovations led to a ten year cooperation with the gallery and himself. His suggestion for our posters was very close to our way of thinking. The poster was a medium for making announcements to the public that in the decade following the revolution had become outdated for political reasons and we all were eager to revive it in the style of distant times.

A group of young graphic designers led by Aria Kasai and Reza Abedini designed posters for Azad Art Gallery’s weekly exhibitions for ten years! Posters that were all in a previously designated framework. They were also young pioneers that viewed these posters as a way for them to gain experience. Some of them during the era of this project distanced themselves from graphic design and followed other contemporary styles of art. Many joined us midway on our journey; from Tehran and other cities, with a variety of processes, and all of them brought a freshness and an adventurous spirit with them.

The Azad Art Gallery and its experimentations gave their work identity and their poster designs gave a unique identity to the activities of our gallery, ranging from group exhibitions numbering over 200 artists to individual one-person shows. From one night projects to fully curated exhibitions. From the youngest unknowns to the most famous. They were all introduced under one identity and the audience knew at first sight that a bold and progressive exhibition was to be held in the Azad Art Gallery. This does not happen easily. Many artists stood against the generality of the posters and opposed our graphic designers, or complained of delays in the various stages of preparation, financial aspects and distribution tactics and storing difficulties, they displayed opposition to the hanging of the posters and… Only one thing stayed the same; the warm, welcoming reception by the public.

A few years had to pass before this good fortune befell on all. Time was needed for collectors, galleries and museums to realize this was an appropriate project and they should invite the exhibitions to their cities. And still more years must pass for the historical significance of the past few years comes to light. There were years that the rise in marketing separated the basis for experimental art and only small groups here and there kept the flame alive and watched over it. From the day that trusted museums of the world requested to host the poster projects of the Azad Art Gallery, I realized that those days had passed. Whether we want to or not we must hand this over to history and start afresh.
On our part we are thankful to those who accompanied us on this journey.

A special thanks to Reza Abedini.

A great many thanks to our fellow companions in Karga Studio under the leadership of Aria Kasai.

Thanks to all the artists who believed in the Azad Art Gallery and their heartfelt appreciation of our posters.

Thanks to the workers and management of the Sabz Arang printers.

And thanks to each and every visitor to our gallery, especially those who understood the value of our achievements and kept a special place for it in the corners of their showcases.

The Azad Art Gallery will no longer publish posters but will make announcements available digitally in the virtual world.

Azad Art Gallery Team