Raven, Devil’s Confrontation. Computer graphic. 2022

(PARAMUS, NJ) -- Gallery Bergen announces the opening of a collaborative exhibition of contemporary Iranian artist to take place this fall in two locations - its own gallery on the campus of Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ from September 21 - November 21, 2023 and the Bürgerhaus Glockenbachwerkstatt (Glockenbach Townhouse Workshop) located in Munich, Germany from October 24 - December, 2023. 

The Cup Flows Over: Art from the Soul of Iran features work by prominent artists such as Berlin-based Parastou Forouhar, younger Iranian artists living and working in California and Berlin, as well as artists living in Iran. The choice of two separate venues divided between Europe and the US speaks directly to the reality of the Iranian diaspora.  The exhibit will be on display at Gallery Bergen, Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ.

This exhibition seeks to move beyond the headlines to explore the ongoing and historic struggles of immigration and the diasporal experience, of merging with and simultaneously changing the culture of newly adopted countries. The artists make use of a variety of media including film, video, photography, fabric work and installation while invoking ancient Persian texts to describe their new realities.

Anonymous, Abar Sang. Stills from animation. 2022.

Artists include Parastou Forouhar, Sholeh Asgary, Labkhand Olfatmanesh, Shaghayegh Cyrous, Katyoun Bahrami, Narges Poursadeqi, Fanny Pokrandt, Ali Sayah, Mansooreh Baghgaraee, Raven, and Anonymous.

The curators, Tim Blunk and Lima Vafadar are organizing several livestreamed events that will connect the two spaces with live music, poetry and discussion. Opening receptions and events are planned for September 21 at Gallery Bergen (US) and for the Bürgerhaus Glockenbachwerkstatt on October 24.

Gallery Bergen, the visual arts presentation space of Bergen Community College is located in Paramus, NJ - just 10 miles from New York City. This spacious and state of the art space has shown works of all media from some of the most important contemporary artists in the US, including most recently Faith Ringgold. For more information or access to 3D/VR renderings of the gallery, visit gallery.bergen.edu.

The Bürgerhaus Glockenbachwerkstatt (Glockenbach Townhouse Workshop) is located in the cultural and artistic heart of Munich. The “Glocke” is a popular community center with childcare, workplaces, art studios, and a neighborhood café. It is around the corner from the Bellevue di Monaco, a residential and cultural center for refugees. The Bellevue offers diverse culture programming ranging from panel discussions on topics of migration and diversity to films from and about the home countries of their guests, to theater plays and concerts presenting artists from all over the world.

Parastou Forouhar, Limbo. Series of 12 digital drawings, digital print on Kozo thin paper, all 80 X 190 cm, 2021