June 23, 2021 Wall renovation The first phase of the project to renovate the outer wall of Sa’dabad Cultural and Historical Complex in is underway, said complex’s director Kia 5 Parsa, chtn.ir reported. Iranica Qalamkari, one of most elegant forms of Persian art

atching a qalamkari work Tools in qalamkari is like stepping inside a Wfictional book full of dif- Many years ago, the artists only ferent stories. By looking at the floral needed colors, fabric, and brushes, in patterns, you can imagine yourself in order to create a qalamkari work. They a garden, touching the flowers and could draw every pattern using differ- smelling their scent. You will also fol- ent sizes of brush made of horsehair low a Persian soldier hunting on his and by hand. Then the artist required to horse among the cedar trees. color the patterns patiently. However, The natural color of a qalamkari nowadays, Iranians invented some fabric displays a fetching part of Per- stamps made of carved pear or haw- sian art. No matter what the story is, thorn wood to enhance the process. the road that leads you to see Persian art and culture is always exciting, ter- How do Iranians produce mehtravel.com reported. a qalamkari work?

What is qalamkari? First of all, the background of the work or the fabric needs to be colored. In the Persian language, “qalam” By putting the cotton fabric inside a means pen and “qalamkari” is the art bowl of water and pomegranate peels, of painting with a pen or stamping on termehtravel.com alalamtv.net the material will have a light beige a piece of fabric, especially clothes. A color that is perfect for drawing. Isfa- “qalamkar” or the master of this art, uses han’s Zayandehrud River was used as natural materials to illustrate Persian art the place to soak the fabrics for about on a piece of cloth and offers you this five days to have a smooth colored souvenir to bring back to your home. You fabric. When the sun rays dry the fab- can even use a qalamkari work as a table- ric completely, the “qalamkar” or the cloth and enjoy its design. artist can draw on the fabric by a brush If we take a look at Persian art’s his- or use wooden stamps. tory, qalamkari was not very popular The first stamp that should be used in ancient , but eventually, this on the fabric is the black outline to put form of art found its place among Ira- the desired pattern on the cloth. Then nians during the Safavid Era. During the artist needs to color the second that period, this art showed its perfec- stamp and place it precisely on the tion and still shines in Isfahan, central first one and hammer it. Any changes Province of Isfahan, more than other in the placement of the second stamp places in Iran to be one of the main can decrease the value of the qalam- handicrafts in this fabulous city. The kari work. Then the qalamkars can ultimate beauty of qalamkari was ir- use as many colors as they want and resistible, therefore even the attack of put the stamps on the fabric to have a Mongol’s army to Iran could not de- colorful piece of cloth. stroy this art. The magical nature of After finishing the coloring process, golvani.ir xhome.ir it enchanted the Mongol army and let the artist needs to fix the colors for them enjoy it as well. aesthetic spirit through their hands You can find the hunting scenes in too. The main materials come from be found. However, today, chemical col- washing by cooking them. The qalam- Since the capital of Iran during the and display their limitless abilities on qalamkari works as well. The minia- nature. Each thread and color has a ors are more popular, so the diversity of kar should have a pot full of boiling Safavid Era was Isfahan, the masters fabric. ture pattern of a Persian prince with a natural base, which adds to its value. shades in this art increased as well. water and use the steam of the water to of qalamkari carried over this pre- bow and arrow on his hand while rid- However, due to the massive prod- heat the colors, cook them, and wash cious art to their children and grand- Patterns in qalamkari ing on a horse and chasing a gazelle uct of qalamkari, today, people use Fabric in qalamkari them once again. When the fabric is children. Thankfully this art could can be craved in your mind. chemical materials as well to keep dried fully, the final touch of the artists stay alive and show Iranians’ delicate The main patterns in qalamkari All of these patterns shows how Ira- the price low and increase the pro- Silk and cotton are the two main is designing the edges of the qalam- and artistic nature to the world. works are inspired by nature. You can nians value nature and its beauty. For duction amount. fabrics in qalamkari. These two kari. Finally, this gorgeous piece of art find different flowers and trees which Iranians, using qalamkari is an excel- types of fabrics offer paintability, is ready to design your house with its What are the main elements are symbolic in the Persian culture lent way of showing respect to Mother Colors in qalamkari which allows them to absorb differ- astonishing patterns and colors. of qalamkari? inside this form of art. The cedar tree Nature. ent colors better, and can save their Having an elegant qalamkari work is one of the patterns which is the re- The most used colors in a qalamkari shapes for a long time. However, in your house can remind you of the Like some other traditional Persian semblance of life and livelihood. The What are qalamkari materials? work are pail red, black, blue, and yel- today the cloth does not need to be rich Persian culture and the beauties arts such as plaster works, wood carv- Islamic flowers and paisley design is low. The masters extract the color from totally pure. To make affordable of Iran. You can always travel to Iran, ing, and tile works, qalamkari is about evident, as well. The smooth curves of Qalamkari is one of the most el- natural sources. For example, in order to qalamkari works, companies use a visit Isfahan and explore Naqsh-e Jah- the lines, inspirations from nature, and these floral patterns can show the deli- egant forms of Persian art. There- have red, Iranians used red roses. By us- combination of different qualities of an Square to buy your qalamkari work professional artists to transfer their cacy of Iranian art. fore, the materials need to be elegant ing walnuts’ peels, the black color could cotton. there.

Sirjan, a historical city with numerous attractions in Province

Sirjan, a city in the southeastern prov- ince of Kerman, with the ancient name “Shirgan”, is one of the most important historical cities of Iran that has maintained its importance since many years before the advent of Islam. This city with 960 kilometers distance from Tehran, the capital of Iran, and 180 kilometers distance from Kerman, the cen- ter of the province, has been recognized as a main economic centers of the country due to being located at the intersection of Iran’s transit axis for many years, iranpara- dise.com reported. Sirjan is the second most populated city in the province and neighbors Shahr-e Ba- bak and in the north, and in the east, Hajjiabad in the south ISNA rasekhoon.net seeiran.ir and in the west. Sirjan has cold Bibidan Hill Sirjan Bazaar Stone Castle winters and relatively mild summers and springs. cold, dry winters and mild summers. The ships coming to . by philanthropists of Qajar (1785-1925) to Sirjan consists of two parts naming city is located at 55 degrees 32 minutes Also the Stone Castle, Stone Pulpit, provide ice for the inhabitants of the city ‘’ and ‘Markazi, four cities includ- east longitude and 29 degrees 25 minutes King Firouz Monument, Tomb of Mir and Chopoqi Wind Tower, dating back to ing ‘Pariz’, ’Zeyd Abad’,’Sirjan’,’Najaf north latitude. Zubeir, Twin Ancient Clay Cooler, Saeedi Pahlavi Era (1925-1979). It is considered Shahr’, and 10 rural districts. Some scholars believe the history of the Historical Mansion, Stone Garden, along- to be the most unique wind tower in the This city is the second populated one in city dates back to the Achaemenids Era side a collection of caravans, houses, country. Sirjan is also home to Baq-e Sangi and it is one of the most (550-330 BCE) or the Parthian Era (247 castles and ancient towers are just some or Stone Garden, an abstract work of art important cities of the region. It is located BCE–224 CE) when a king named Volo- of the historical and cultural attractions of created by a deaf gardener named Darvish in a specific geographical place at the junc- gases was in power. Sirjan which can take you for hours to the Khan Esfandiarpour nearly four decades tion of Yazd-Hormuzgan and Kerman– Others believe that the city was founded magnificent art and architecture party of a ago to protest the loss of his beloved garden. Fars roads. Sirjan has several factories and by the Sassanids (226-651 CE). It is said historic city. The Sirjan Salt Playa, God-e Ghool mineral resources and numerous dug out that due to the presence of several mines Sirjan is also one of the most important which is a no hunting zone and a bird aqueducts and fertile lands. and qanats (underground water manage- cities in Iran in the field of handicrafts pro- watching hub, the picturesque Pariz Re- Two mountain ranges stretch from the ment system) in the area, the city was duction. Its worldwide registration as the gion with its many valleys, waterfalls, Zagros Mountains to the east and west of named Sirkan or Sirgan meaning mine- iranparadise.com origin of the shirikipich kilim is a testa- springs and orchards, Gera Valley with its the city, and the vast Sirjan plain, which filled or qanat-filled. Chopoqi Wind Tower ment to this claim. wild almond and pistachio trees and Sar- covers an area of 18,481 square kilome- Because of its ancient history, the city historical periods. Sirjan has one of the ers called the “chopoqi” built in the early Sirjan’s historical attractions include an mashk Mountain are among some of the ters. Sirjan has a semi-arid climate with is a collection and museum of various most unique types of Iranian windbreak- Pahlavi Era by modeling the chimneys of ancient bazaar and Sirjan Icehouse built city’s top natural attractions.