Glass, Gilding, and Grand Design: Art of Sasanian Iran (224–642)
February 14–May 20, 2007

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A historical exhibition such as Glass, Gilding, and Grand Design: Art of Sasanian Iran (224-642) can play a critical role in current events. By bringing a Sasanian exhibition to the New York/American audience for the first time in over a generation, Asia Society is working to educate the American public about Iran and how its culture and history play an important part in understanding Iran's current position, motivations, and ambitions when it comes to conflicts over nuclear power and international relations.

Many have commented on the exhibition and its significance.

Christiane Amanpour
"It is important that the culture of a great nation is given wide audience... especially in the USA at a time of increasing political [fire-breathing] about Iran."

Holland Cotter, New York Times
"By all means see the rare and fabulous work at Asia Society, for the intense pleasure it gives and for the windows it opens onto history, present and past."
Read the full New York Times review

Michael Chagon, Curatorial Consultant for the exhibition
"One of the main goals that I set out for myself in organizing this exhibition was to broaden the public discourse on Iran as it occupies a central position in world affairs today—certainly, a keen understanding of a culture's past shades our understanding of its present and future.

"Among the great many benefits of learning about cultures such as Sasanian Iran, which are seemingly far removed from our own time and place, perhaps primary is that one's concept of history itself becomes rarified and more palpable. The combination of a long historical perspective and the specificity of dealing with tangible objects gives one the sense that history is indeed not neatly divided into eras and subsections, but rather represents the ebb and flow of events that fluidly relate to and interact with one another, sometime more so in certain cases than in others. Like ideas themselves, works of art are receptacles of a cultural tradition whose values are built up only gradually, and are sometimes effaced, forgotten, or lay dormant for a time. Works of art from Iran produced in the four centuries of Sasanian rule not only bridge the disparate cultures of the ancient world as the exhibition stresses, they also bridge historical time. Glimmers of the values they embody can be excavated in the remnants of what came before, but also continue to inform the present. In this light, the art of Sasanian Iran takes on a much deeper significance than its visual dazzle and presence betrays."

Jamshid Ehsani
"The Sasanian Dynasty played a pivotal role in ancient Persian history. They revived the Persian empire's glory to the levels once achieved by the Achamanian dynasty (lost to Alexander) to lose it once again during the Arab invasion.... In many ways the Sassanid period witnessed the peak of Persian civilization. Their cultural influence went far beyond the empire’s borders and influenced both the western and eastern civilizations. This influence even carried forward to the Islamic world which later on ruled over the empire."

Hafez Nazeri
"As an Iranian I am really proud of Asia Society for bringing such a history and projects to the west, not only with Iran but with so many other countries in Asia where we should learn and discover more about their past, present and future. As an artist I think we need to create and bring more light and love with our art works to such a dark world. Through my music, I've tried to extend the vibrant, living traditions of Iran. It is through art and culture that we celebrate unity while rejoicing in the endless field of diversity that voices our humanity."

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Bust of a king – Palace II of Kish 5th century Stucco H. 51.5 cm Field Museum of Natural History, 236400A © The Field Museum, A109938c, photography by Ron Testa