ENCOUNTERS
VISIT
Cultural celebration
Iran was the cradle of one of history’s greatest civilisations – yet its exquisite artworks remain unknown to many. A new V&A exhibition is set to change that, exploring the past 5,000 years of Iranian culture through the lens of art.
A vibrant array of more than 300 objects captures some of the key themes woven through Iran’s history: empire and kingship, the rise of Islam, and writing and poetry. We see its beginning as a fledgling civilisation, brought to life via pottery decorated with cavorting animals; the sprawling Persian empire and its fall at the hands of Alexander the Great; and Iran’s place in the world today.
Highlights include illustrated depictions of parts of the or “Book of Kings” – a poem completed in the 11th century that consists of more than 50,000 rhyming couplets. Elsewhere, the lavish interior of a dome
