The HBO Documentary about Iranian revolutionary artist and activist Nicky Nodjoumi has its release date announced. Titled A Revolution on Canvas, the 95-minute project’s director is his daughter, Sara Nodjoumi, and son-in-law, Till Schauder.
According to Variety, Nicky Nodjoumi’s paintings were displayed at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in 1980. However, due to its controversial nation, he was forced to flee Iran. In the aforementioned project, the audience will learn about the disappearance of over 100 “treasonous” paintings. Furthermore, the makers of the project attempt to track down and reclaim the artworks.
In A Revolution on Canvas, will also delve into several other topics. However, first-time director Sara Nodjoumi will also learn about her uncanny upbringing in America and Iran.
According to Tribeca Film’s official website, the synopsis of A Revolution on Canvas reads, “Born in Iran but living in New York City, Nodjoumi traveled back to Iran to join the Islamic Revolution. Making paintings and posters criticizing the Shah’s regime. In 1980, the painter fled Iran following the protest of his solo exhibition. “Report on the Revolution,” and its subsequent shutdown at the hands of Islamic radicals at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art.”
It further states, “Decades later, the renowned artist and his daughter attempt to track down the missing paintings in hopes of reclaiming them. During the search, Sara, drawing on disarmingly frank conversations with both her father and mother. Celebrated artist Nahid Hagigat, and grappling with complex feelings and mysteries tied to her upbringing. Traces a timeline of events to understand the circumstances that led to her family’s personal history. Echoing the treacherous path of many immigrant families caught in the crossfire of politics and life.”
A Revolution on Canvas will be released on HBO and Max on March 5, 2024.
Nicky Nodjoumi’s paintings address several aspects of Iranian politics
Born in 1942, Nicky Nodjoumi studied at the Fine Arts at the School of Fine Art at Tehran University. Gradually, he arrived in the USA to study and have heart surgery but soon returned to Iran.
After his return to his native country, he made paintings that questioned the Shah’s regime. However, this led to him getting exiled and he was forced to return to the USA. Furthermore, his paintings are displayed in several galleries and museums. These include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, the National Museum of Cuba, and the DePaul Art Museum.
2014, the director of CIA’s Reinberger Galleries, Bruce Checefsky had a conversation with Nicky Nodjoumi where he asked the painter if he saw himself as a painter in a way. Nodjoumi replied, “I think for that couple of years I thought that, you know, painting wouldn’t do much; painting is not enough; I need something stronger to express the feeling. But when I looked around and I was kind of disappointed with the political situation and the organization, I couldn’t go to the filmmaking, I don’t know whether I would have been a filmmaker, my temperament is a painter. So I went back to the roots.”
Nicky Nodjoumi is married to the Iranian-American illustrator and artist Nahid Hagigat.
