AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Astan Quds Razavi’s Institute of Artistic Creations has issued an invitation for photographers to take part in Mazaarat International Photo Festival.
Announcing the above in a press briefing, Hoj. Mohammad Zolfaqari, deputy in charge of international affairs at AQR Scientific and Cultural Organization highlighted the importance of resurrection in the Holy Quran and Abrahamic religions. “Belief in the resurrection is part of public culture in many nations while mausoleums have a special place in deep-rooted civilizations. Shrines and mausoleums are also places for cultural, political and social movements.”
“In the last 80 years,” he noted, “extremist groups such as the Wahhabis, on the ground of misinterpretations of Islamic teachings, have tried to destroy the important symbols and reserves of civilization in the Islamic world.”
Referring to the limited photographs left from Al-Baqi’ cemetery, he said photographers should preserve history as well as epistemological and civilizational assets for future generations by recording historical and professional images.
He then highlighted the importance of ancient photographs left from Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine in keeping great memories alive and eliminating absurd claims. “Attaching value and paying attention to these symbols of civilization can save us from many future harms.”
“In addition to identifying the mausoleums, the purpose behind holding the festival is to register civilizational relics of these places, record their religious, architectural, cultural and social impacts, and create an international union of impressive mausoleums in the midterm. We hope that in the future, this festival will be held first in the Islamic world and then in the whole world,” he enunciated.
Amir Mahdi Hakimi, the CEO of AQR Institute of Artistic Creations, recounted the history of the institute in the field of photography, publishing several photo books and a wide relationship with the community of photographers among the activities of the Institute.
According to him, the secretariat of the Mazaarat Intl. Photo Festival has been active since December 28, 2020. “The festival welcomes works from Iran and overseas until February 28, 2021, in two themes of ‘prayer’ and ‘architecture of Islamic mausoleums’.”
The jury members of the festival are Raha Bilar from Turkey, Mohammad Sattari, Abbas Mirhashemi, Ebrahim Bahrami and Ahmad Khatiri from Iran who will pass judgements on March 5, 2021.
The official said due to coronavirus restrictions there will be no closing ceremony and winners of seven best works will be introduced in late March. “In each section of the festival, three selected works will be honored, and one work will be awarded with the special prize of the festival.”
Amin Ebrahimi, executive secretary of the festival also pointed out that the cyberspace capacity has been used to introduce the festival to photographers from around the world, specifying a website in both Persian and English at photo.mazaar.net available to the audience.
Ebrahimi further noted that each photographer can submit 10 works including five works in each of the two sections through the festival’s website.
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source : AQR
Wednesday
27 January 2021
7:19:16 AM
1109607
Astan Quds Razavi’s Institute of Artistic Creations has issued an invitation for photographers to take part in Mazaarat International Photo Festival.