Hafez Tomb Exhibition, Shiraz, Iran: The Real Dialogue Between Civilizations

by Parisa and Amir Sabooki

“The chamber region of my eye (located between the arch of the eyebrow and the eye lashes) is your house, so relax and be at home for this is your home.”

— Hafez

In this ghazel (poem) Hafez invites all those who are his friends to come to Shiraz. When anyone of importance comes to Shiraz we welcome him or her with the recitation of this poem. It is written everywhere in Shiraz.

Hafez is the most famous poet of Iran and perhaps, of the world. He lived in the 14th century. The meaning of Hafez is: one who memorizes the Koran, and so Hafez was the pen name of Mohammad Shirazi. There are more than 6,000 verses in the Divan of Hafez. He composed lyric poems about the Lover of God and God, the Beloved. This Book of Hafez has a celebrated place in every household in Iran, and the people consult it for all-important matters. A proverb in Iran says: “Hafez is in the blood of the Iranian People.” It shows how close Hafez is to us.

The Tomb of Hafez is situated in Shiraz, a city that was once home to countless philosophers, poets and artists. It is rich in roses and nightingales, filled with perfumed gardens, especially with the intoxicating fragrance of orange blossoms. One becomes drunk from the fragrance without wine here. The beauty of the flowers in the tile works elevates ones being to nearly losing ones consciousness. Shiraz means City of Secrets. We cannot reveal the secret of Shiraz; it is for one to learn the secret for oneself.

Laurie Blum had the great honor to be the first artist to ever have her works exhibited at the sacred Shrine of Hafez quite near to his tomb. Laurie has traveled from America to Shiraz, three times, since 2003. She says, “Shiraz reflects what has been mysteriously enchanting and symbolically beautiful to me from childhood. I see my heart turned inside out in the beauty of its Nature. The Chanar and Cypress Trees, the long-tailed Zaaghi (the Iranian Raven), and the magical mountains transport me into a living Persian Miniature Painting.” She explains to me, “The miracle of the beauty of Shiraz is the key to the door to my Inner Garden. It was lost to me once, because this beauty is secretly hidden deep inside but when I came to Shiraz, the joy rose from my heart and beckoned me to paint unceasingly. When I paint the door opens within to that inner sanctuary. Hafez has spoken of the Tavern in his poems where he is drunk without worldly wine. It must be the sweet nectar of Shiraz that is in the Breeze and fills the atmosphere with such vitality and life! Hafez speaks of the Friend in his poems and I believe that in the joyous surrounding of Shiraz I found my myself, the Inner Friend.” Magic occurred during her exhibition on Christmas Day. Even though it rained the people flocked enthusiastically to Hafez’s Garden to see the paintings. They said that Laurie painted like a Shirazi artist using the Shirazi colors and that her subjects were also close to their hearts. Mr. Hassan Golbon, the Director of The Cultural Institute of Shiraz told her that he hoped in the future that she would become part of the Shirazi Artists and be introduced in the future as one of them. Mr. Mehdi Faghih, one of the oldest actors in Iran, agreed with Laurie, “Though we come from East and West, we speak the same universal language of love of the heart. Our symbols of beauty are one.” I, Amir Sabooki, said of her painting of Roses and Nightingales, “Shiraz is in the painting, it should be called Shiraz.” I felt the spirit of her reverence for Hafez was in her works.

Mr. Navid, the number one publisher in Iran, said, “Laurie Blum comes from the West and we are from the East. Laurie shows the real dialogue between civilizations in her paintings.”

Though the exhibition at Hafez was of short duration due to bad weather, we have promised Laurie to have a grander exhibition for her inner garden when she returns later this year.

Parisa and Amir Sabooki