TEHRAN – A “Symphony of Crime” exhibition of cartoons and caricatures opened at the Palestinian Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran on the second anniversary of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, serving as a show of support for the oppressed Palestinian people and Gaza.
The opening ceremony was attended by Majid Shah Hosseini, principal of the Academy of Fine Arts, several members of the academy, representatives of the Palestine Defense Association, and numerous resistance artists and members of the media.
The exhibition will feature works by Iranian artists who created art in solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza. Through this exhibition, they express their support for the Palestinian cause with a particular focus on Gaza.
Maziar Bijlani is a veteran caricaturist who has written extensively about the Holocaust and contributed several works to the exhibition. Among the other artists featured is Fatemeh Taslimi, who primarily does illustrations. Abbas Gowdarji, a well-known figure in resistance art with many years of experience, also contributed works that reflect the cry for humanity and justice.
Works by additional artists Faraj, including Farshad Khosravi, Mohammad Hossein Sasani, Sajjad Jafari, Maryam Mohebi, Hossein Naqib, Mohammad Ali Rajavi, Mehdi Rassouli, Seyed Mohammad Salem, Seyed Mohammad Javad Taheri, Fatemeh Tayoub, Peyman Alishahi and Mohsen, are also on display.
“Symphony of Crime” will run until October 19th.
Two years have passed since Israel began its genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, in response to attacks by Palestinian fighters. At least 67,000 Palestinians have been killed during this time, and thousands remain trapped under rubble. More than 20,000 children were among the dead, and more than 169,000 were injured, many with life-changing injuries.
The medical system is under strain, with more than 125 facilities, including 34 hospitals, damaged. Health workers have been killed or detained. As of July 2023, there were 28 senior doctors detained in Israel, some of whom died from torture.
Israeli attacks have targeted hospitals and aid workers, violating international law protecting medical facilities. Since October 2023, more than 790 attacks against healthcare infrastructure have been recorded.
The blockade and military restrictions also caused severe hunger, with at least 459 people dying of starvation, including 154 children. The United Nations officially recognized famine in Gaza in August 2023, the first time in the Middle East in recent history, and the situation is expected to worsen.
Malnutrition among children is skyrocketing, with thousands suffering from severe acute malnutrition and many infants being born prematurely or with low birth weight. The ongoing violence and blockade have become a humanitarian catastrophe for Gaza’s residents.
Photo: A cartoon by Iranian artist Abbas Ghoudarji on display at the Symphony of Crime exhibition at the Palestinian Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran.
SAB/