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Iran Guards Hidden Art Trove

Top modern art collection kept in the basement of Iranian museum

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:47 PM CDT

(Newser) – A basement chock full of Picassos, Monets, and almost every important Western Modernist painter—surely the Louvre? Au contraire, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. That’s where the LA Times’ Kim Murphy found a treasure trove of painstakingly cared-for paintings that have seen the light of day but once since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Flush with oil money in the late '70s, the shah's regime snapped up Warhols, Kandinskys, and a Pollock. So despite it's vehemently anti-Western stance, modern-day Iran owns the most important collection of Western art outside the West. It has been shown once, in a celebrated 2005 show. “We keep it like the apple of our eye,” the museum’s curator says.

Environ de Giverny, painted by Claude Monet in 1883 is just one of many Western treasures kept out of sight in the basement of the museum, partly due to anti-western politics.
"Environ de Giverny," painted by Claude Monet in 1883 is just one of many Western treasures kept out of sight in the basement of the museum, partly due to anti-western politics.   (ir-tmca.com)
You can't find any collection of this comprehension outside the Western world, said the former director of the museum regarding works like this 1920 Picasso. In Tokyo, you may find important works by Impressionist artists. But in terms of a comprehensive collection covering all the major movements, no. Nowhere. Not...
"You can't find any collection of this comprehension outside the Western world," said the former director of the museum regarding works like this 1920 Picasso. "In Tokyo, you may find important works...   (ir-tmca.com)
The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art where an extensive collection of work by western masters is kept from public eye due to space, and political concerns.
The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art where an extensive collection of work by western masters is kept from public eye due to space, and political concerns.   (User: Zereshk; Wikimedia Commons)
The museum exterior. Flush with oil revenue in the 70's, Iran acquired what is likely the largest collection of Western art, outside of the West, including work by Picasso, Warhol, Pollock and Van Gogh.
The museum exterior. Flush with oil revenue in the 70's, Iran acquired what is likely the largest collection of Western art, outside of the West, including work by Picasso, Warhol, Pollock and Van Gogh.   (User: Zereshk; Wikimedia Commons)
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Related Links

See the collection
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art

Tehran opens show of 'giants of Iranian art'
Tehran Times

All about Iran's contemporary art scene
Metropolitan Museum of Art

 
Iran • art museum • Tehran • art • Andy Warhol • painting • Picasso • Jackson Pollock • Monet • Kandinsky • Islamic Revolution

 
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