Shut off from Iran, brothers find home in Dubai and gallery in Paris

The Iranian painters Rokni, left, and Ramin Haerizadeh at their studio in Al Quoz. They will exhibit their creations in Paris from June 5.

DUBAI // Two exiled artists who use their work to protest against the Iranian government have been selected for an international showing. The Iranian painter Rokni Haerizadeh, 31, and his brother Ramin, 34, a collage artist, will exhibit their creations at the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac in Paris from June 5. They say the opportunity will allow them to reach out to Europe and the rest of the world.

Both have been living in what they described as self-imposed exile in Dubai for more than a year. "We deal with political issues about recent things. We are more expressive now that we live here," Rokni said. "This Paris exhibition is important and we will give our message to a different audience. They need to see our different culture and ideas. We don't know if we still face a threat, but we have decided to stand up."

The brothers say that after showing their work at Art Dubai in March 2009, they received a frantic phone call from a friend warning them not to return to Tehran. The Islamic Ministry of Culture and Guidance was targeting them over some work it viewed as outside its conservative limits, the friend said. The brothers, who had lived in Iran all their lives, are no strangers to controversy. They claim that in Iran they had received threats, been told to pull down pieces from exhibitions and been imprisoned for wearing unsuitable clothing.

Too frightened to return, they lived in a Dubai hotel for three months. They have not returned home and do not plan to. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iranian artists have been subject to criticism from the state, which decides whether their work is appropriate. For nearly a decade, from 1997 until 2005, the tension eased slightly as Mohammad Khatami, who many considered a progressive leader, began to support local artists. The current president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, however, takes a harder line.

Farbod Dowlatshahi, a 47-year-old art collector in Dubai who is possibly Rokni's biggest fan, organised a sponsor for the brothers and arranged their stay in the Emirates. "I helped them to be installed in Dubai," he said. Mr Dowlatshahi saw unique talent in Rokni, and was drawn to Ramin's bold character. "From the day I put an eye on Rokni's work, I knew immediately he was the one," said Mr Dowlatshahi, who has been buying art for more than 20 years. "Ramin is a genius who is ready to take the risk and express his opinion no matter how it is perceived."

The siblings work in a warehouse in Al Quoz, toiling away from 8am to 7pm every day on their art. Rokni's giant abstract paintings, often depicting social scenes from Iran, sell for US$30,000 (Dh110,000) to US$100,000. The brothers are enjoying the freedom of life in Dubai, home to some 80,000 Iranians. The only aspects of Iran they miss are being close to their parents, and their house. "In Tehran, our house was like an Andy Warhol factory," said Rokni. (Fittingly, the Ropac gallery has a Warhol show scheduled for September.)

Across Iran, artists find private spots like Rokni's old home to work on new pieces and store their collections. "We have shipped most of our work here now," Rokni says. "I don't know what's going to happen to us. We are in exile, we came here to escape. We can't go back." [e-mail]