CANCELLED: Persian Miniatures Course

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

CANCELLED

Anahita Alavi

* Due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, this course has been postponed.

The British Institute of Persian Studies is excited to partner with the Centre for Iranian Studies (SOAS) for another term to host a workshop series on Persian miniatures. The course is designed to take participants on a pleasant journey to the mysterious world of Persian miniatures, teaching them about materials, colours, paper preparation and Persian miniature styles.

During the course, students will be guided through the various stages of making Persian miniature and experience the whole process practically. They will learn:

• How to prepare the paper
• What the fundamental elements of landscape-making are and how to draw nature as depicted in Persian miniatures
• How to transfer a sketch onto the prepared paper
• Colouring and shading techniques
• How to outline and elaborate painting and add delicate details with a fine brush

The course starts with a short historical introduction to Persian miniatures and the stylistic features of different Persian miniatures’ schools . Our practical lessons begin with one of the basic, yet essential, elements of Persian miniature: nature. The course aims to familiarise participants with the conventional methods used to illustrate nature in a number of historical schools of Persian painting: the Īlkhānīd, Timūrīd and Safavīd ones. During each session, students’ works will be looked at by the instructor on an individual basis and necessary instructions will be given. While practising, students will be advised about some theoretical-aesthetic concepts in Persian-Islamic visual art.

No background in arts is necessary; beginners are welcome to start and move forward step by step whereas students who already have a background knowledge and/or experience will be taught according to their level.

Students will be provided with a pallete of required handmade pigments and two brushes. Students need to bring the rest of materials including paper and tracing paper.

The course will run every Monday, 6:30-8:30pm at SOAS (room T108) from 20 April to 22 June 2020.

Registration deadline: 13 April 2020

Registration: Email BIPS Executive Officer at bips@thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Fees: £270 (10% discount for BIPS members). Course fee includes the costs for materials.

Anahita Alavi is an Iranian artist who has learned Persian miniature painting, Islamic illumination and geometric design under the supervision of the great masters in Iran. Her keen interest in the aforementioned areas sparked when she was sixteen, and led to choosing traditional Persian painting as her BA major. She used to teach Persian painting and Islamic illumination at the Payame‐Noor University of Tehran and a number of schools and institutes in Iran. Aiming to enhance her theoretical‐historical knowledge about Iranian culture and arts, Anahita has done an MA in Art studies at the University of Tehran and another MA in History of Art and Architecture of Islamic Middle East at SOAS University of London. Since 2016, she has been engaged with teaching and producing Persian miniature and illumination in London as an entrepreneur sponsored by SOAS.

Organiser: British Institute of Persian Studies (BIPS) in partnership with the Centre for Iranian Studies, SOAS

Contact email: bips@thebritishacademy.ac.uk

Contact Tel: 020 7969 5203