The perception that modern Iran's cultural production is characterized, like its politics, by revolution and ideological rigidity has prevented those outside Iran from seeing the rich tradition of visual art that has developed in modern Iran during the last hundred years. In this interview, Amy Motlagh discusses the work of the talented young Iranian artist Sara Dolatabadi (1978-), who was born and educated in Iran, but now lives and works in Tokyo. Dolatabadi's art and life offer an exceptional--yet at the same time, oddly representative--example of the plight of the modern Iranian artist. Introduction
