IRUS: PROPOSAL

Over the years, the people of Iran and the United States have experienced an increasing cultural disconnect. As citizens of these countries, we recognize that there is a lack of adequate discourse between our cultures, seeing each other as nations rather than diverse individuals. We believe by developing dialogue our communities can foster greater understanding of one another. Mutual understanding will help to cultivate respect for both our differences and common dreams, allowing us to work toward a more peaceful existence. Cultures have used art as a catalyst to communicate ideas and identity for millennia. As artists we aim to create dialogue through collaboration.

Two teams of artists, one in Tehran and another in Denver, have assembled under one name: IRUS (Iran - United States). Both teams consist of artists proficient in various mediums. Through collaborative interaction we plan to establish a much needed dialogue between our two nations. The project began when the KA-TET approached Morehshin Allahyari on the possibility of working around the concept of underground art in Iran to confront the misconceptions between our cultures. After developing and refining a basic concept, developing a proposal, and gathering a team, Allahyari invited Negin Ehtesabian, a Persian artist in Tehran, to form a team of artists. This Iranian team co-developed a proposal with the KA-TET.

Starting with our mutual respect for art, we intend to establish collaborative projects between our groups. Using the theme of “Dialogue,” it is our attempt to present the perspectives of each group in a respectful, trusting and encouraging manner. In this process, we are not only developing art, but also participating in a functional dialogue with each other as artists and individuals. This functional dialogue will manifest itself locally in conversations among individuals and globally through the modification of artwork by all the members of IRUS. A cultural dialogue will also take place by proxy through the stories of Iran and the United States. Through exhibiting our work and documentation of the process, we will extend our dialogue to the public.

Details of the implementation of this dialogue will be as follows:

1. The Iranian team will send their individual projects to the American team; the American team will complete the projects, adhering to the established guidelines of collaboration listed below.

2. The American team will send their individual projects to the Iranian team; the Iranian team will complete the projects, adhering to the established guidelines of collaboration listed below.

3. Each member of IRUS will develop an interpretation of the Persian story of Scheherazade (One Thousand and One Nights, mistranslated as Arabian Nights in the west).

4. Each member of IRUS will develop an interpretation of the works of American storyteller, Mark Twain.

5. IRUS will hold exhibitions of this work in the United States and Iran. These exhibits will include documentation of the project.

Collaboration Guidelines:

· Trust members of the other team in the handling of work.

· Respect the cultural and religious perspectives of each artist.

· Specifically communicate how the work (or elements of the work) may not be altered.

· The members of IRUS, who collaborated on a particular piece, are the owners of that piece, whether it sells or not.