art

The translation of a literary work—especially poetry—can rarely convey the full essence of the original. Owing to the profound cultural affinities between Türkiye and Iran, however, this challenge has often been transcended in the exchange between Persian and Turkish. The works of Nazım Hikmet have long been embraced and admired by Iranian audiences.

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For Samira Darya and Meysam Nejad Rasouli, their encounter with Nazım Hikmet's writings dates back twenty-three years to their student years. Samira Darya's contribution of illustrations to the 2019 Persian edition of Hikmet's poem The Lover Cloud (Sevdalı Bulut) further deepened both artists' connection to his literary and artistic legacy. The exhibition presents Samira Darya's illustrations and paintings created for The Lover Cloud, alongside Meysam Nejad Rasouli's portraits of Nazım Hikmet.

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The exhibition "Sevdalı Bulut & Mavi Gözlü Dev", organized by leading figures of contemporary Iranian painting Samira Darya and Meysam Nejad Rasouli in tribute to Nazım Hikmet, will be on view at Gala Gallery from 7 to 21 July 2023.