TEHRAN -- Veteran Iranian painter Alireza Espahbod died of heart failure here on Saturday.

Born in 1951, Espahbod studied at Tehran’s Academy of Decorative Arts and later moved to London, where he received M.A. in graphics from the Royal College of Art.

The funeral procession of the artist begins at Iranmehr Hospital on Monday and his body is laid to rest at the Artists Graveyard of Tehran’s Behesht-e Zahra Cemetery.

Melal center displaying artwork on Ashura

TEHRAN -- The Melal Cultural Center in northern Tehran is playing host to an exhibition of visual arts on the theme of Ashura (the day Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions were martyred).

Over 60 paintings, calligraphic works, posters, photos, miniatures, and calligraphy-paintings are on display at the event which runs until Feb. 28.

Iran launches website for animated movies

TEHRAN -- The first Iranian animated films website was launched on Sunday simultaneously with the opening day of the 5th Tehran International Animation Festival.

Organized by the Documentary and Experimental Film Center (DEFC), the website contains information on Iranian animated films, animators, and companies producing works in this genre.

The website is available on www.defc.ir.