Iran & Russia: Cultural Collaborations…

A new exhibition of artworks by Iranian and Russian artists has opened in Moscow. The exhibit–organized by the Iranian Embassy in Moscow–includes Persian miniatures and calligraphy.

My own personal interest in cultural collaborations between Russia and Iran led me to contribute a chapter (about Russian and Armenian influences on the birth of Iran’s film industry) to this new book: Iranian-Russian Encounters: Empires and Revolutions since 1800.

These authors shine flashes into the corners and cupboards of Irano-Russian history which add to our knowledge but leave us avid for more. –- James Buchan, Asian Affairs

As far as I know, this book is the first to explore a variety of political, artistic, social and economic encounters between Iran and Russia since 1800. If you’re interested in either region–or both–you might check it out…

Here’s the blurb for the book: Bringing together leading scholars in the field, this book demonstrates extensive use of family archives, Iranian, Russian and Caucasian travelogues and memoirs, and newly available archives in both Iran and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Providing essential background to current international tensions, this book will be of particular use to students and scholars with an interest in the Middle East and Russia…