TEHRAN -- Acclaimed filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami says his photos capture his feelings more than his movies.

“My photos more closely capture my moods than do my movies. Whenever I finish a movie, I urge myself to take photos. In this way I can relax and regain my energy,” Kiarostami said at the opening ceremony of his photo exhibit “The Walls”.
The exhibition of large photos, previously shown in Iran, Italy and France, opened at Tehran’s 10 Gallery on Friday, the Persian service of the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) reported on Saturday.
Bearing the shadows of a window, a tree and its branches, or evidence of the natural world such as emerald green mould, muck from blooming trees and red dirt washed up by heavy rains, “The Walls” consists of the images Kiarostami’s camera recorded for the exhibit.
“As a filmmaker, when I am making a movie, I feel responsible for filling the seats in theaters, and do not feel I am all alone. In photography, I am alone with my personal tastes and camera, so it is natural that I feel more relaxed doing my photography,” he said in the opening ceremony.
“The number of our talented artists in the visual arts is greater than that of our leading filmmakers. I believe Iran enjoys a higher status in visual arts in the international arena than in cinema, as Persian art has managed to find its way into international markets. This is not the case with cinema yet,” he added.
Kiarostami, director of world classics such as “Taste of Cherry”, “Ten”, “The Wind Will Carry Us” and “Certified Copy” said that he finds his topics from within his previous works and the walls came out from “The Door” series.
His “Walls” is simultaneously on display at the Pari Nadimi Gallery in Toronto.
A collection of his photos entitled “Snow” is also on display at the exhibit, which will run until May 27 at the gallery located at Riahipur Alley, Niru-ye Entezami St., Khoddami St., near Vanak Square.
Photo: Abbas Kiarostami attends the opening ceremony of an exhibition of his photos entitled “The Walls” at Tehran’s 10 Gallery on May 13, 2011. (ISNA/Erfan Khoshkhu)