TEHRAN -- After 44 years of exhibiting artworks, Tehran’s Seyhun Gallery, one of the oldest in the city, has received an order from the landlord to evacuate, urging the artists to take serious action.

Seyhun Art Gallery was established by Masumeh Seyhun in 1963 on Jomhuri Street and was transferred to Khaled Eslamboli in 1973 and has been active since then. Owner Masumeh Seyhun died in May.
The gallery is currently run by her son Nader but after 44 years, the landlord needs his own place and is asking for the premises to be evacuated. Nader has not been able to convince the landlord to sell the property to him.
This situation urged veteran artists to gather at the gallery and sign a letter in support of it.
The artists, who were introduced to the society at this gallery, gathered there on Monday to sign the letter. Parviz Kalantari, Kambiz Derambakhsh, Ahmad Nasrollahi, Akbar Nikanpur, Davud Shahidi, Kurosh Adim, and Bahram Dabiri were seen among the artists.
“We are not talking of the past; we are speaking about treasure, the treasure of a nation; the intellectual and spiritual treasure of a nation.
“Seyhun gallery is vast and glorious, not because of its location but for its history and background. The gallery was a start for many, for those who had something to say, for those who liked to speak in the mystic language of art.
“Now the gallery is facing imminent danger, because its history is being ignored and it may face evacuation,” reads part of the letter signed by the artists.
They also wrote and signed a letter addressing Hamid Shahabadi, deputy culture minister for artistic affairs.
“Dear Shahabadi, please help this location, with its 44 years of continuous activity, stay alive and secure. Evacuation of the gallery equals destruction of this place. It would be an irreparable blow to the artistic community in the country.
“The gallery bears the memories of outstanding artists, those who grew and gained fame from here. Seyhun Gallery was their home, Sohrab Sepehri, Reza Mafi, Faramarz Pilaram and many more grew here. Do not let their house be evacuated and destroyed. This gallery is the heritage of several generations of artists,” reads part of the letter.
Veteran artist Parviz Kalantari who was among the artists at the gallery, told the Persian service of Fars, “many of my friends and I began here in this gallery. This disrespect is a catastrophe for our cultural heritage.
“In our country, many have destroyed our cultural heritage, and if the art and cultural officials are not fully aware of their responsibilities, we artists must draw their attention to our cultural heritage,” he said.
Nader Seyhun, the current owner of the gallery, also said that they have approached the landlord about selling the location to him but he has refused to do so.
“We are waiting for the court to announce its verdict next month, but we hope this letter would make enough of an impression so that we could stay here,” he said.