A Tale of Two Cities

The city’s form is a re-creation of the bodies and souls of its inhabitants. It ages as human bodies wear down, mourns with their sorrows, and rejoices in their happiness. In this way, the city emerges in art alongside human presence, becoming a narrator of its time.

The exhibition “A Tale of Two Cities” offers a reflection on the fears and hopes, joys and sorrows, or any other dualities that have enveloped contemporary Iranians through the lens of artists from different generations. Utopia and dystopia—these opposing visions serve as frameworks for reinterpreting our present condition, the crossroads between retreating into the past or moving toward the future.

Artists challenge the present by portraying the city as it is, sometimes offering alternatives for the audience to consider. From this perspective, bringing these works together becomes an exploration of our contemporary existence.

— Saeed Babavand