Tehran Art Exhibition Celebrates Martyr Mansoureh Alikhani with Inspiring Works by Iraqi Artists

In a profound display of solidarity and creativity, the “Art Against War” exhibition opened on Sunday at the Art Bureau of the Islamic Ideology Dissemination Organization in Tehran. This exhibition features poignant works by Iraqi artists, commemorating the martyrdom of artist Mansoureh Alikhani, who tragically lost her life due to the violent actions of the Israeli regime against Iranian territory.

The exhibition showcases a total of 24 remarkable pieces created by Iraqi artists, including artwork produced during a specialized painting workshop dedicated to the memory of Martyr Mansoureh Alikhani and other victims of the Israeli aggression. Notable artists who contributed to this exhibition include:

• Zahra Hassan
• Rasil Ahmed
• Morteza Riyaz
• Abdul Rahman Hussain
• Sattar Jabbar Al-Zameli
• Mohammad Kate’
• Maryam Ahmed Hassan
• Adel Khaled
• Ahmed Samir
• Farah Issam
• Muslim Akeel
• Zainab Haqi
• Mohammad Al-Hasnawi

During the opening ceremony, Seyyed Ahmed Shubbar, the Director of the Bait al-Jamal Lil-Funun art center in Baghdad, honored Mansoureh Alikhani as a talented painter who was martyred in the recent Israeli offensive on Iran. He remarked, “In her honor, we organized a symposium titled ‘Art Against War’ this July in Baghdad.”

Shubbar elaborated, “Twenty-five Iraqi artists participated in this symposium, producing 25 works. The first exhibition of these works was held in Baghdad, and the second, at the invitation of colleagues from the Art Bureau, is taking place today in Tehran.”

Highlighting the potential for future exhibitions, he stated, “We could host similar events in other countries, but these require diplomatic coordination and official invitations.”

The impact of this exhibition extends beyond art; it serves as a powerful reflection of significant events. Shubbar emphasized, “Art is a universal language capable of conveying messages across borders through various forms, making it highly effective in delivering meaningful narratives.”

The exhibition statement poignantly expressed, “Where souls meet at the crossroads of words and colors, young and veteran artists gathered in an open painting session that lasted seven days, giving meaning to ‘Art Against War.’ This was not merely a workshop but a moment for reflection and aesthetic protest — where canvases became battlegrounds, words became shields, and colors became shouts illuminating the darkness of war.”

Continuing the narrative, the statement revealed, “We aimed to demonstrate that confrontation in war is not solely achieved through weapons; art can stand at the forefront and depict what artillery cannot erase. This empathetic experience was born out of solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and as a tribute to the Iranian artist Mansoureh Alikhani, who was martyred in this conflict, becoming a symbol spreading light through every stroke and splash of color.”

Furthermore, the statement conveyed, “We believe this exhibition is more than an artistic event; it is a spiritual testament affirming that art endures and beauty can challenge ugliness. When combined with Arabic calligraphy, sculpture, painting, and weaving, the human spirit can declare that life is stronger than war, and in every painting, ink droplet, and intersecting line, humans are reborn anew.”

This significant exhibition had previously taken place in Baghdad in July, where the Bait al-Jamal Lil-Funun art center hosted a week-long symposium to honor Iranian painter Mansoureh Alikhani. This event united Iraqi artists in a collective effort to commemorate her memory, denounce violence, and highlight the transformative power of art in promoting peace and cultural exchange amidst regional conflicts.

Mansoureh Alikhani, a talented painter and a student of master Kazem Chalipa, lost her life during the Israeli assaults targeting residential areas in Tehran. She was in the process of creating a painting about Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions during the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, which tragically remained unfinished due to her martyrdom.

On June 13, a series of terrorist attacks executed by the Israeli regime targeted Tehran and several other Iranian cities, leading to the martyrdom of numerous military commanders, scientists, and innocent civilians. In retaliation for the brutal Israeli assault, the Islamic Republic of Iran initiated Operation True Promise 3, launching a barrage of missiles against occupied territories.

The Israeli strikes focused on non-military areas within Iran, resulting in a tragic loss of innocent civilian lives, including women and children. This incident has incited outrage not only within Iran but also from international observers, highlighting the global implications of such acts of violence.