Cultures of Resistance

For many years, the state has curtailed the freedom of expression of the Iranian people. Cultures of Resistance is proud to highlight the work of Iranian artists who are working to promote democratic freedoms in their home.

Cultures of Resistance is proud to partner with the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), one of the largest grassroots organization working on Iranian-US relations in the country, to highlight the work of these amazing artists. Click here to read NIAC's review of these two short films.

Tehran Ratz: Graffiti for a New Iran

Like any undemocratic government trying to stifle dissent, the Ahmadinejad regime in Iran has tried to repress controversial artists. Given that those who display their art on the street for everyone to see have been particularly targeted, it comes as no surprise that the work of Tehran Ratz, a dynamic duo of graffiti artists, has been banned. In this CoR short film, the members of the Tehran Ratz discuss their efforts to use graffiti to challenge the legitimacy of the Iranian regime and to change international assumptions about their country’s people.

Iran Inside Out: Explorations at the Chelsea Art Museum

From June to September 2009, the Chelsea Art Museum housed an exhibition entitled Iran Inside Out. It featured the work of contemporary Iranian artists living both inside the country and throughout the diaspora. Offering a fresh perspective on international relations, the artists’ work is critical of both the Ahmadinejad regime and the United States government. As Till Fellrath, managing director of the museum, says of current Iranian art culture, “It is a very youthful resurgence, a real outburst of creativity and you can feel that there is a change in the air.” This short film, which Cultures of Resistance produced for the museum, takes you on a guided tour of the diverse artwork and challenges the viewer to reject stereotypes of Iranians that are prevalent in the Western media.

Take Action

To visit CoR's action page on Iran, click here.