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Iranian artists snub Rice
11/05/2007 14:43 - (SA)
Washington - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was beaming as she met Iranian artists at an event intended to promote cultural links with Iran. Still, there were currents of unease.
Ten of the 14 Iranians who received special visas for the exhibition refused to be photographed with Rice, and two would not even accompany her through the gallery on Thursday because they were "uncomfortable", said two organisers.
"Art moves above politics, and I didn't want to be a part of politics," said Behnam Kamrani, 39, a digital artist from Tehran.
Bahar Behbahni, 33, a mixed media artist from Tehran, said: "It doesn't mean that the artists aren't political or don't (care) about politics.
"Artists don't want to make political gestures. Our language is our art; we express ourselves through art."
So what was billed as a unique and open expression of culture to bridge vast political differences between the United States and Iran became an exercise in crowd control as the state department scrambled to prevent reporters from even glimpsing Rice's tour.
Iran's 'great culture'
All journalists were kept in the final room of the exhibit behind two immense wooden doors that opened only when Rice finished and appeared with four of the Iranian artists.
Rice said: "This is really a great day. I have so enjoyed seeing the work of these great artists.
"They are representing so well the great culture that Iran has, the great culture that goes back for so many centuries but that is being brought here today so that the American people can see another side of Iran."
Two US officials said they understood the artists had been warned by Tehran not to appear on camera with Rice, but this could not be independently confirmed.
The US broke diplomatic ties with Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran.
Relations have remained frozen amid mutual recriminations and animosity, notably over Iran's nuclear programme, which Washington claims is a cover for atomic weapons development, and alleged Iranian support for insurgents in Iraq and anti-Israel groups.
'Just an artist'
The cases of three Iranian-American dual citizens detained in Iran and that of a retired FBI agent who has been missing in Iran since early March have further strained the situation.
Many of the artists whose work is on display at Washington's Meridian International Centre said they hoped its presence in the United States would have a positive impact among Americans.
"I am just an artist, I am not an Iranian terrorist, and if I can do anything for the peace of the world, that is something I would be proud of," said Mitra Kavian, 43.
She said: "I don't know. Maybe, I hope. I don't like war; I like peace everywhere."
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