For Immediate Release
November 19, 2005
Contact: Carlos DeSantos
DeSantos Gallery
Tel: 713-520-1200
Email: carlosdesantos@desantosgallery.com

DeSantos Gallery Presents: The Veiled Mirror

Contemporary Iranian Photography

Curated by Soody Sharifi

Opening Reception Saturday, May 6 ^th Saturday at 6:00-8:00pm. Reception with Artist sat 6:30 DeSantos Gallery 1724-A Richmond.

Houston TX June 2006 –

De Santos is proud to present the work of 5 leading contemporary Iranian photographers: Soody Sharifi, Shadi Gadirian, Dadbeh Bassir, Malake Nayini, and Bahman Jalali. Most of the artists have never been exhibited in Texasa and some for the first time in the US.

 For over 25 years, Iran has been and continues to be in the headlines. But its artists and individuals have been marching to a very different drum beat of late. This began with the international success of Iranian cinema and in recent years has encompassed the thriving scene of Iranian contemporary artists, whose work has stolen the show at Bienales such as Venice and

Sharjar and art fairs such as Art Basel the world over.  These photographers question received notions of identity and offer a very different, and rich, interpretation of what living under a Muslim theocracy means. The artists each have a singular approach to questions of gender, youth culture, the individual's role in a society, and, inevitably, religion. The country's cultural voices only reflect on the incredible diversity, of peoples, of opinions, of outlooks that lie at the heart of this often misunderstood culture. From allusions to Iran's pre-Islamic heritage to social dynamics amongst young Iranian teens, the artists in Staying Found have turned their lenses and eyes to an Iran that is rarely, if ever, seen in the West.

 Ghadirian's work has garnered lots of attention of late, from being exhibited in Paris Photo to xxxx. Of the group, only Houstonian Soody Sharifi lives outside Iran. Sharifi has helped curate the exhibit, in association with her gallery in Tehran, the Silk Road Gallery.

About the DeSantos Gallery

DeSantos Gallery provides innovative ideas about photography, while maintaining an outstanding reputation for integrity and customer satisfaction.   The gallery is owned and directed by Luis and Gemma DeSantos, natives of Spain and   long-time residents of Houston.  

The DeSantos conceived and built the gallery with Houston architect, Fernando Brave who recently received the 2005 American Institute of Architects Design Award for his building design.   The DeSantos Gallery specializes in traditional and new media photography from contemporary European and Asian photographers, including Anna Halm-Schudel, Roman Loranc, Sang-Nam Park, and Kimiko Yoshida.   The gallery also has work available by North American and Latin American artists, Clyde Butcher, Linda Butler, and Edgar Moreno, among others.