Representation of Social Issues in Contemporary Iranian Paintings (1979-2015)

Abstract

The purpose of this research is representation of social issues in contemporary Iranian painting in perspective of artists. This qualitative study was performed using semi-structured interviews. The statistical population of this study includes all artists working in Iranian painting. However, due to some problems, among about 30 selected artists, 15 were interviewed. The results showed that contemporary paintings often involve various social issues such as war and discrimination. Most of the interviewed artists believe that art should help people think, and this upgraded works should not only be understood by the people, that depend on the artist's perception, as well as on the type of thinking, mindset, motivation and origin of a painter. Personal characteristics and environmental concerns can lead artists to create works of art. The results showed that, some of the arts are generally representation of critical views, and sympathy with the people is not the main concern. The results also showed that painters often believe in both criticism and sympathy, but to them, criticism affects more than sympathy to improve the situation. Most artists know the imposed war eligible to be reflected on paintings today. Also, civil liberties, class differences, and social abnormalities are of main interests of most painters.

Keywords: social issues, contemporary paintings, presenting social problems in painting, painters views about the role of art in social life