Simin / Radio Koocheh
The celebration of Professor ”Mehdi Sadjadi”, was held on Sunday November 7th of 2010, at the Apadana restaurant in Vienna with the efforts of ”The Cultural and Scientific Association, Bavar”. ”Professor Sadjadi” is the ultimate Iranian Royal painter famous for painting very quickly the portraits of some of the most important personalities in the world. A handful of Iranians living in Austria and enthusiasts Austrian Art lovers along with personalities such as Dr. Michael Postl, former Austrian ambassador in Iran, Nader Mashayekhi, the Iranian-Austrian composer and conductor, Dr. Houshang Alahyari, Iranian-Austrian director, Dr. Reza Zadehmohamad, provincial president of the Taekwondo Federation in ”Steiermark”, Austria, Davood Sohrabi, director of the publishing house “DMI, Druck” and Publisher of Professor Sadjadi’s works, as well as several family members of Professor Sadjadi attended this celebration.
Proff.Mehdi Sadjadi
A speech delivered by “Ardavan Taheri”, head of ”The Cultural and Scientific Association, Bavar” as the organizer of this amenities was the start point of this ceremony. He first welcomed everyone and added:
”Today, we have gathered here to honor a great artist. A man who for almost a century, has been involved, body and soul, with colors and forms, has captured the essence of faces with love and his hands and pursuing eyes have immortalized his art work in the history. We would like to acknowledge him for all the blessing he brought us with his artistic role and presence.
Professor Mehdi Sadjadi is an artist who with different styles and techniques antagonized the retrogressive society during his childhood and continued to bring novelties with his enthusiasm and joie de vivre.
from the left: Mehrdad Sadjadi the son of Proff.Mehdi Sadjadi- Ardavan Taheri
Professor Mehdi Sadjadi’s stand is very important and significant not only from an artistic perspective but also from a historical point of view as the ultimate Royal painter of the last Iranian Imperial Dynasty. Although Professor Sadjadi faced continued prejudice, and unfairness from the Iranian revolutionaries and political activists abroad, but over time, it is obvious to any one involved in arts and knowledge that Mehdi Sadjadi is an important part of Iranian and world history. Denying this absolute fact, does not depreciate Professor Sadjadi but only shows an obvious ignorance of the so-called Iranian intellectuals and non-respect of their own cultural heritage.
Ardavan Taheri, Iranian composer in Austria, addressing to the Iranians who have chosen Austria – for any reason – to live, study or work, says:
”As Iranians who for whatever reason have chosen to live in Austria, you are considered as a part of Austrian society. Iranians have always interacted with their host society and been very influential. Austrian society has also been very open to this mutual cultural interactions. Iranians have been so well mixed with Austrians, that even though they have maintained the foundations and originality of both cultures, it is impossible to consider them apart from the Austrian society. ”
The president of ”Bavar” association, then thanked all individuals, institutions and organizations who have helped in any way to make the celebration of professor Sadjadi a success.
Marija Calamac / Bosnian-Austrian Flutist
The next speaker at the ceremony was Dr. “Michael Postl”, former Austrian ambassador in Iran. He is fluent in Farsi, and expressed his contentment about the presence of Iranians in Austria who have always been the source of cultural services, art and science. He mentioned today’s multicultural world, and the effort of Austria in respecting all cultures and added:
”In today’s multicultural world, coordination of humans, beyond their citizenship, culture and language boundaries can create a beautiful world. Austria has always tried to respect all cultures and thus counts as a multicultural country. Perhaps I can dare say that what has turned the capital of Austria, Vienna, to one of the most important cultural cities in the world is our openmindness to all cultures and civilizations. It is obvious that many prominent non-Austrian composers and musicians have flourished in this environment. And, of course, Austria is proud of their fame in the world. The coexistence and mutual understanding between Austrians and Iranians have been so intense that many Iranians have chosen Austria for study, and work in different areas – especially Art- for many years. Professor Sadjadi is a prominent example of those Iranians who have chosen Austria as home and have spent many years of their lives here. Professor Sadjadi who -to quote himself- paints with his heart- received ”The Badge of Honor for Service to the Republic of Austria” (Das Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich) in 1960. He has chosen the heart of Vienna as home for years now in and is one of Iran and Austria’s honors in the world of Art and Culture.
I am very pleased to be among you today, in this Iranian House, Apadana Restaurant, in Vienna, that the celebration of this prominent artist is held with the efforts of ”The Cultural and Scientific Association, Bavar”. At times when good relationships and mutual understanding among civilizations and cultures, to achieve a more peaceful and beautiful world seems necessary, the highly appreciated relationship and understanding of Iran and Austria with outstanding personalities such as Master Sadjadi, becomes very valuable. “
Dr.Postl /Former Ambassador of Austria in Iran
After Dr. Michael Postl, the messege of Dr. Avideh Motmaen-Far from Canada, as a member of the world of Arts was heard by the audiance.
In a part of her speech she says: ”Professor, I would like to express today, how I, as a citizen of the world of arts, am thankful for your legacy.
From the portrait of Gustav Adolf and important Austrian personalities to the amazing depiction of the Royal Iranian family, your camera-like eye captured within seconds the essence of some of the greatest people in this world.
Sir, you are an artist amongst artists, to be able to portray someone’s very soul in just a few fleeting moments, is a rare gift that many of us can only hope to emulate.
You have influenced many a generation with your art work and on behalf of the future generations to come who will surely continue to benefit from your work, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You are such an inspiration to me!”
In this part of the celebration, the classical music, Professor Sadjadi’s favourite music was played by an Austrian-Bosnian flute player artist.
Then, a short film about Professor Sadjadi was screened. This film, is a 15 minutes re-edited interview with Davood Sohrabi about the publishing of Master Sadjadi’s book.
“Mehrdad Sadjadi”, the son of the professor, in the ultimate minutes of this ritual, thanked the organizers, and expressed his joy of holding such a tribute of his father.
And the last but not the least was the speech of the director of Apadana Restaurant who thank everyone and expressed his appreciation of the gathering to celebrate a great artist who should be praised. In a very short speech he said: ”I wish I could thank more Professor Sadjadi. Thanks to the valuable and immortal work he has done so far to keep the art of painting alive. As professor mentioned himself, there has been a time when a sculptor was sentenced to death, it meant that ”creating” ”someone” was sentenced to death, but fortunately we created and we will create and we will keep the art alive. In any time and place, the art should live and it is art that keeps us and our history alive. Art is not dying, art is not sentenced to be hung. Art remains always alive.”
He expressed that hopefully he wished to do more for other artists too, adding: ”We have many artists here and I have built a small house, it’s a place for artists and culture and it can represent Iranian culture and civilization in this corner of Vienna; a place for great artists such as Professor Sadjadi, Dr Alahyari, and Nader Mashayekhi.”
And so was the ending of the celebration of the prominent Iranian-Austrian painter who once was the pupil of Kamalolmolk.
«نوشته فوق می تواند نظر نویسنده باشد و الزامن نظر رادیو کوچه نیست»
