ANGELS - MARYAM SALOUR

Exhibition of Ceramic Sculptures - Introduction

Venue:

St. Antony's College, 62 Woodstock Road, Oxford.

Dates:

6 - 13 July 2005.

Organised by:

The Iran Heritage Foundation and the Oriental Institute (University of Oxford) in association with St. Antony's College.

Curated by:

Maryam Salour.

Introduction:

Maryam Salour is a polyvalent artist. Simultaneously ceramist, sculptor and painter, she incarnates the three disciplines without confusing them. However, there is no disruption between the three. It was in France at the Savigny Academy that she was initiated to the art of ceramics.

In her sculptures, this tendency to abstract the quintessence flourishes in space. The predominant forms become the complementarities of opposite forces. All the statuettes have triangular faces, as though by opposing the three angles, the triangle would constitute the restless dynamism of creation itself. That is why the omnipresence of the negating principle, or Satan, who projects a halo, so to speak, around the work of art, is rather like an occult power. Because the devil is not the fallen angel, nor is he damned, but on the contrary, he is the attracting force of love. He has been degraded from his privileged position because of his excessive love; it is his immoderation, the exclusivity of his irrepressible desire, his rebellion to all unconditional commands, which have been the cause of his death and damnation. He is the force, which animates the universe, which gives warmth to the cold stars of the constellations. In Maryam Salour's opinion, Satan and Angel have interchangeable roles. Maryam's works have been exhibited widely, recent solo exhibitions have included: Niiavaran Cultural Center, Tehran (2003), Contemporary Art Museum , Isfahan (2003), Illinois State University , Illinois (2001), Niiavaran Cultural Center, Tehran (2000), Arcade Chausse Coqe, Geneva (1997), Sad' Abad Museum, Tehran (1996).

This exhibition at St. Antony's College displays five of Maryam's ceramic sculptures. Four are from the 'Angels' series and were created in 2004. The fifth, titled 'Satan and Eve', was made in 2002.

For additional information on the artist and her work see www.maryamsalour.com.

Admission free

How to purchase:

All works by Maryam can be purchased directly from the artist. The sculptures in the exhibition are available for sale through the artist at a special discount of 15% plus packing and shipping costs. For prices, terms and conditions, please contact the artist at maryamsalour@hotmail.com.

Enquiries:

The Iran Heritage Foundation, 5 Stanhope Gate, London W1K 1AH. 44 20 7493 4766 (tel), 44 20 7499 9293 (fax), info@iranheritage.org.

Conference:

This exhibition is being presented in conjunction with a conference entitled Private Live and Public Faces in Modern Iran at St. Antony's College.