Hall of Mirrors: Exhibition of Taraneh Hemami's Works - 2002-08-24

The exhibition of works by Iranian-American artist Taraneh Hemami will be held from September 10 to October 12 in San Francisco (Bay Area). The photographic and calligraphic works, along with writings displayed on mirrors and glass in this hall, reflect the lives of Iranians who have made the United States their home. Ms. Hemami has collaborated with writers such as Persis Karim, Shahrnush Parsipur, and Zari Taheri to create these works, alongside interviews she personally conducted with many Iranian-American organizations in the Bay Area. Topics such as 'immigration issues' and the exaggerated and 'typical' portrayals of Iranians presented in the media are among the subjects addressed in the collected works. The opening of Ms. Hemami's exhibition coincides with the first anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. While over twenty years have passed since the Iranian Revolution and the hostage crisis of American embassy staff in Tehran, the image of Iranians continues to be overshadowed by these events, and the September 11 attacks have further tarnished the reputation of Iranians. North Americans have rarely had the opportunity to learn about the personal and collective experiences of immigrants and their children born in the U.S. The Hall of Mirrors provides the public with the chance to become acquainted with the experiences of Iranian immigrants intertwined with Islamic philosophies and patterns before these works are forgotten. Some of the works from the 'Hall of Mirrors' exhibition will be permanently housed at the 'Iranian Center' in Berkeley. Concurrently with the opening of Taraneh Hemami's exhibition, her website will also launch: http://www.hallofreflections.com. Taraneh Hemami was born in Iran and resides in San Francisco. She graduated from the California College of Arts in 1991. Her works have previously been exhibited in several individual and group exhibitions in various cities.