For the first time in the United States, this group exhibition celebrates the diverse works of emerging Iranian and Cuban artists in one place. Forgoing the jargon of headline news, this exhibit reintroduces the often-overlooked dimensions of people, culture, and the artistic vibrancy of Cuba and Iran.

With the recent thaw in relations between the United States and its two former adversaries, and with the renewed interest in the discovery of, and travel to both countries, IRAN X CUBA: Beyond the Headline is without question timely and unique.

Iran and Cuba share little in common. Their geographic location, history, language, and religion exhibit no similarities. However, the one defining event that unites them is the experience of a major revolution in the 20th century, which left both countries isolated and economically challenged. The Cuban revolution forcibly erased religion, as it had no place in the communist ideology, while the Islamic revolution in Iran enforced it as the main manifestation and an umbrella under which all changes in the country were justified.

Excerpts from Catalogue by Roya Khajavi.