AUK Host Persian Art Week

The American University of Kuwait hosted a Persian Art Week on February 20-23 where prominent Iranian Painter and Photographer Mr. Hassan Meshkinfam visited the AUK campus. Mr. Meshkinfam participated in several different events and activities including visiting art classrooms, holding a workshop for AUK art students and had a permanent photography and painting exhibition in AUK's 5th floor of the Liberal Arts building. 

The renowned artist interacted with many AUK art students, who benefit from his great experience when he held a critique of student artwork on February 21st. Mr. Meshkinfam also held a watercolor workshop which was very well received with many student participants. The workshop, which was sponsored by the AUK students' Art Factory Club, was extended an hour to accommodate the influx of student participants. 

The highlight of the week was the main lecture on February 23 titled 'Contemporary Persian Art and Design', where Mr. Meshkinfam discussed trends in Persian painting. This lecture, which was open to the public, also included AUK faculty members Professors Maryam Hosseinnia, William Andersen and Dr. Gholam Vatandoust. 

Dr. Gholan Vatandoust, Visiting Associate Professor of International Relations & History and one of the organizers of the event, was encouraged by the success of the event and thanked all that helped make the Persian Art Week a great achievement, especially Ms. Helene El Neaman, President of the Art Factory Club and Ms. Sepideh Behbehani Vice President of the Art Factory Club. 

Mr. Meshkinfam is a renowned Iranian artist who was educated in Iran and at the Besancon School of Fine Arts in Paris. Since 1981 he has established The Gallery of Modern Art in Shiraz, where he continues to teach painting. His art work and photographs have ornamented numerous national and international galleries. He has also put on display many domestic and international art shows and has published various albums of his works. Among his most outstanding commitment and contributions to art is his creation in 2003 of the first private museum of visual arts in Iran. The Meshkinfam Museum is in his home town of Shiraz and his joint recent volume with AUK's Professor of International Studies Dr. Gholam Vatandoust titled The Meshkinfam Museum of Art: The First Private Museum of Visual Arts in Iran is a tribute to such an effort.
 

Photography and painting work on display in the Liberal Arts Building
 

Mr. Hassan Meshkinfam
 

Mr. Hassan Meshkinfam with AUK students during a critique session (far right Dr. Gholam Vatandoust)
 

Students participating in the watercolor workshop
 
Mr. Meshkinfam with AUK students during the water color workshop
 

Professor William Andersen during the water color workshop
 

Left to right: Mr. Hassan Meshkinfam, AUK faculty members Dr. Gholam Vatandoust , Professors Maryam Hosseinnia and Professor William Andersen
 

A view of the audience during the lecture
 

Mr. Hassan Meshkinfam presents a lecture titled 'Contemporary Persian Art and Design'