“Final Encore ll” in honor of “PAYKAN – Iranian ex-national car” was a group art installation show featuring various Iranian artists. The curators Sogol and Joubeen collaborated with Shahin Armin on this project.
A city is like a cell, always growing and changing. As time passes by, contemporary Iran witnesses remarkable evolutions in expanding cities. Architecture and urbanism get transformed. movement becomes easier due to the construction of roads and highways with ever-increasing traffic. facing these changes, citizens demand implements to enjoy the facilities developed for a better life.
In a modern city, Owning a car becomes necessary for each family, to the point where ultimately in the mid-1960s, along with the economic growth and development in Iran, a British car manufacturer starts a production line in this country. Paykan – the so-called “national car”- was being produced in Iran for almost 40 years. The slogan of “one Paykan for each Iranian” addresses literally everyone, from the prime minister to the low-income groups of society. Paykan turns fascinating among young people. hence, appearing in family photos and videos, it finds a place in the collective memory of several generations.
And now, the remains of a burnt Paykan are pulled out of a car graveyard; the topsy-turvy pieces of the iron body are rejoined, as if the car becomes alive. Accessing the memory is crucial because of the role it plays in a contemporary man’s life. Remembering the past is a way of recording the history, recording the events, and recording all the things which should not be forgotten for having a better future. So, we invite artists to create artworks with fragments of Paykan, by recovering historical memory.Paykan appears on the scene with scattered memories for the last performance.
Curator’s note
