A new prize aimed at artists of Iranian descent has been launched in Monaco. The biennial Behnam Bakhtiar Award hopes to promote Iranian art internationally and to counteract “the image of a culture and country that is too often misunderstood and criticised”, says Sassan Behnam Bakhtiar, the Monaco-based Iranian artist who founded the prize.
The first edition of the award, titled Future Iran, invites artists to “portray their vision, hopes and dreams” for the country. “I believe that every change starts with a vision—exploring ideas, inviting possibilities, thus planting seeds for a better future,” Behnam Bakhtiar says.
8
sur 7
