MENA Arts Foundation: A New Bridge

On October 30th 2013, the Spoke Club hosted a private event, perhaps one of its kind to have been held in Toronto to this day. Some of Toronto’s arts and culture professionals and enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the launch of the MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) Arts Foundation. A non for profit organization that aims to support Middle Eastern and North African artists to continue their education in Canada from its non-political, non-religious, and non-sectarian standpoint.

Tina Tehranchian addresses the audience on October 30, 2013

Founded by Tina Tehranchian, Shahdad and Joobin Bekhrad, MENA is a family venture with a mandate to support the arts of the Middle East and North Africa through raising scholarship funds for young and talented artists who wish to continue their education at a post-graduate level in Canada. It also acts as a platform for the artists to reach out to new audiences in Canada and beyond. “There are many political and religious issues that have divided the region for years. Unfortunately this divide has been carried over to their communities outside of the region as well. We believe that art is the best medium that could unite these different communities and which can bridge the differences and transcend politics, religion, and other ethnic conflicts. And what better place to start such an organization other than Canada, where so many different communities live together in peace and harmony. ” said Tina during a phone conversation.

Amirhossein Radaie, Untitled, 2013, Cast iron and bronze, 25x25x40 cm

With mediums ranging from cast iron and bronze to oil and print on canvas, the cultural backgrounds of the artists exhibited at the launch event also varied from Iranian, Saudi Arabian, Syrian, and Israeli. But the bronze sculptures of Amirhossein Radaie, an artist from Hamedan (Iran), were clearly the highlight of the night. Depicting golden women dressed in traditional costumes of the Qajar dynasty of Iran (1785-1925) in surreal scenarios, Radaie’s concept is to expose the inability of many of his country folk from determining their own destinies, left to realize them in their imaginations. In fact, during the shipping process from Iran, and only a few days before the event, Radaei’s works were held at Canadian customs due to the restrictions of importing goods imposed on by sanctions. Told by customs that the waiting process may take several weeks, the MENA foundation began to contact those who could possibly help in this situation, and an appreciative Tina said that help did arrive, “We are so grateful to Minister John Baird because his staff really expedited the issuing of the exemption. They loved the idea of MENA Arts Foundation, and we were able to resolve the issues in record time and that shows how supportive our Canadian government is in regards to this type of initiative”.

Hojat Amani, from left: ‘Angel‘, 2010, Inkjet print on canvas, 85 x 125 cm (edition of 5). ‘Angel’, 2010, Inkjet print on canvas, 76 x 100 cm (edition of 5).

During a sit down with father and son Shahdad and Joobin Bekhrad, along with MENA also the founders of the websites Artclvb and Reorient respectively, we asked why there seems to be such a lack of Middle Eastern arts and culture permeating in North America, as compared to the plethora of its residents from the region? “There is a gap between artists of the Middle East represented in North America and Europe because of a lack of exposure. Europe has had such a long history and relationship with the Middle East, not to mention its geographical proximity, while North America is still trying to understand this relationship. Everything is new here, and so a push is needed to expose this art.”, mentioned Shahdad, an architect and civil engineer, who began Artclvb in an effort to create an online platform from whence to sell the artworks of Middle Eastern artists that would otherwise have no access to the West or ways to approach and communicate with galleries and potential clients. What started as a simple gesture for a few friends soon became a focus in Shahdad’s life.

 Saad bin Mohammed, Untitled, 2012, Oil on canvas, 151×206 cm.

Joobin’s interest in the arts and culture of the region, as well as his experience in publishing led to the conception of Reorient Magazine, an online magazine with a new take on the art, music, film, and literature of the Middle East. With contributing writers from all over the world, Reorient gives its readers a portal in which to break away from the traditional or stereotypical story of the region, and on to a contemporary and fresh understanding. “After writing a few articles on the magazine that were not just longer press releases, but that had themes and critical pieces about exhibitions or films or books, that set a precedent and we realized that we couldn’t go back, then the response was really positive.”

Installation view with Amirhossein Radaie, Untitled, 2013, and Hojat Amani, Angel, 2010

With the commercial framework that Artclvb brings to promote artists and the critical and intellectual framework of Reorient, MENA comes in as a foundation aiming not only to promote but also to bring artists from the Middle East and North Africa to Canada. A full circle from a family that has an appreciation and commitment to the arts of the region with no bounds. The future for MENA seems to be bright. “Our vision for MENA is for it to go national, to go beyond Toronto and on to the rest of Canada.”, says Tina, “we want to hold more group exhibitions and auctions of art in the near future, MENA is not just about the arts of the region, its about the culture and different communities as well.”

Co-written and photographed by Saba Askary and Shahrzad Ghorban

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