Theory of Survival

Guest curated by Taraneh Hemami
Opening Night: Jul 19, 2008

Theory of Survival, guest curated by Iranian-American artist Taraneh Hemami, is a continuation of the CrossConnections project that engages the Iranian and Iranian-American diaspora community in an intergenerational, creative dialogue about issues of cultural identity, preservation, and representation. For its incarnation at YBCA, Theory of Survival brings together a multi-generational and international group of artists of the Iranian Diaspora who have responded to a historical archive belonging to the library of the Iranian Students Association of Northern California, which was active from 1964–1982. The collection, which has been partially acquired by the Library of Congress, includes theoretical discourse, original essays, political analysis, translations, as well as posters, newspapers, and documents reflecting both Iranian as well as Bay Area history throughout these critical years. The artists that guest curator Taraneh Hemami has chosen to work with collectively investigate the archives of the past while exploring notions of devotion, salvation, victory, freedom and survival.

Artists include: Reza Aramesh, Gita Hashemi and Leila Pazooki.

Bay Area Now 5 Exhibition Sponsors:
Meridee Moore and Kevin King