Recollection

For this project the artist traveled to Teheran, Isfahan, Yazd, Shiraz, and other smaller cities and historical sites in Iran between 2005 and 2008. There, contemporary cityscapes have evolved since the Islamic revolution of 1979. They are largely influenced by Western architecture and a dialogue with historical sites and cultural centers, which bring to light the long cultural history of the ancient Persian Empire. Could this be a starting point for a discussion about the current state of culture and architecture in Iranian society today? And how is it possible for a country to survive so many historical changes, be influenced by so many cultures, develop diverse architectural styles through the centuries that are recognized as significant cultural sites, and yet hardly draw on this heritage today? The works are marked by the beautiful illusion of so-called reality and the reality of the images and they invite a closer examination of the media while touching upon the limitations of the representational.

Published on occasion of the participation of the artist at the 12th International Architeture Exhibition, La Biennale, Venezia 2012.

Recollection
Walter Niedermayr
Texts: Amir Hassan Cheheltan, Lars Mextorf
Design: Mevis & van Deursen, Amsterdam
Languages: German, English
Publisher: Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern
138 Pages, 52 Works, 17 Foldouts
26.10 x 30.20 cm
Hardcover
ISBN 978-3-7757-2738-9