TEHRAN -- An exhibition of artworks by master of teahouse painting Hassan Esmaeilzadeh (also known as Chalipa) was inaugurated at Tehran’s Mah-e Mehr Gallery on Tuesday.

Veteran painter Aidin Aghdashlu reviewed the works by the master at the opening ceremony, saying, “The late Chalipa was one of the best in the school of teahouse painting, and his works were created beautifully. They show the clash between good and evil in which victory is observed in the heart of each painting.”
Hassan Esmaeilzadeh, who was one of the last masters of this unique genre of Persian painting, died in February 2007.
Commenting on Chalipa’s book, which was recently published by Nazar Publications after his death and unveiled at the ceremony, he stated, “It is good when an artist can see his own series of works published when he is alive. He can leaf through his book and see the changes in his works. It is a pity our master did not live long enough to see his book.”
He added, “Teahouse painting depicted the greatest epics of the Iranian nation through the simplest technique and medium, but received the least attention over the years. Teahouse artists created their art over the past 100 years, but they never gained much fame. We hope that a museum of teahouse painting will be established in the near future to house all the works by the great masters.
“Teahouse painting is the continuation of the royal painting of the Fat’h Ali Shah Qajar era. The major theme of this art is religion, and it focuses on the events of Karbala (the martyrdom of Imam Hussein {AS} and his companions). The epics of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh were also of great importance in this genre of paintings.”
Aghdashlu noted that with the recent changes in society and in the nature of teahouses, this art form changed its location and found its way to artists’ houses and galleries.
Hossein Qollar-Aqasi, Mohammad Modabber, Abbas Bolukifar, and Mohammad Hamidi were some of the pioneers of the genre.
The week-long exhibit is to open at the venue located at No. 12 Kajabadi St. opposite Mellat Park