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بنجامین هیوت بنجامین هیوت هنرمند انگلیسی در دیماه گذشته به ایران آمد. وی پس از سه ماه اقامت و فعالیت هنری د ر ایران در روز 14 فروردین ایران را ترک کرد. او در مدت اقامت در ایران کمی فارسی یاد گرفت تا این حد که در بسیاری از موارد با مردم ایران به زبان فارسی ارتباط برقرار میکرد. وی به مدت سه هفته در کارگاه من بر روی سنگهای بومی ایران حجاری کرد، سپس در پانزدهمین جشنواره هنر محیطی ایران در خلیج فارس شرکت داشت و علاوه بر کار انفرادی در طراحی اثر محیطی پرواز شماره 655 که یادآور شهادت 290 نفر مسافر بیگناه بود مشارکت داشت. بعد از جشنواره بنچامین به شهرهای مختلف ایران از جمله استان اصفهان، گیلان و خوزستان مسافرت کرد و آثاری را در شهرهای مختلف ایران انجام داد. حجاریهای بنجامین برای من با توجه به نمونه های کثیر مشابه در غرب چندان غیر منتظره نبودند اما نوع زندگی او از دیگران متفاوت است. بنجامین در بلای یک درخت پانصد ساله بلوط خانه ای ساخته است و در در آن خانه زندگی میکند. وی به مدت ده سال است که از غذاه هایی که مصرف مینماید که در انگلستان بی مصرف تلقی میشوند. بنجامین میگوید فروشگاه های بساری گرانی در انگلستان وجود دارند و آنها برای جلب اعتماد مشتریهای پولدار با دیدن گوچکترین آسیب در بسته بندی و یا حتر چند روز مانده به انقضاء تاریخ مصرف مواد غذایی را دور میریزند. از دید او این روند اصراف است. از دید من نوع زندگی که در طبیعت و بالای درخت زندگی کند و حساسیت او نسبت به مواد غذایی که دور ریختنی تلقی میشوند و آنها را با خوردن بازیافت مینماید اساس خوبی برای نوعی هنر زیست محیطی است و جذاب تر از حجاریها و مجسمه هایش میباشد. او چندان به این مسائل فکر نکرده بود و بیشتر حجاریهایش را به من نشان میداد. حالا بنجامین پس از این گفتگو ها و شرکت در جشنواره های محیطی با من هم عقیده است که زندگیش میتواند هنرش باشد و قصد دارد که حرکت اجتماعی خود را با هنر پیوند دهد. در هفته دوم نوروز بنجامین با خانواده ما همراه شد و سفیری بک کویر مرنجاب داشتیم. در مسیر باز گشت به تهران بنچامین ضمن گفتگو با نادعلیان رفتار مردم دنیا و ایران را نقد میکرد که چرا طبیعت را آلوده میکنند و چرا غذا را اصراف مینمایند. وی گفت زمانیکه به ایران می آمدم در فرودگاه میلان ترانزیت بودم و از غذایی مصرف کردم که مردم آن در غذاخوری بر روی میز باقی گذاشته بودند. وی گفت در ایران همه جا مردم زباله ها خصوصا مواد پلاستیکی را در طبیعت رها میکنند. او همچنین گلایه داشت که چرا بر خلاف آموزه ای فرهنگی و دینی این کشور مردم مواد غذایی را در زباله ها را و اصراف میکنند. در یک عمل نمادین و یرای نشان دادن اینکه چقدر غذا اصراف میشود بنجامین در روز سیزدم فروردین در یکی از غذاخوریهای اطراف میدان انقلاب از غداهایی خودش را سر کرد که مردم بر روی میز غذا باقی گذاشته بودند. مردمی که در غذاخوری حاضر بودند زیرچشمی بنجامین را زیر نظر داشتند. چون عکاسی کردن نادعلیا از روند این اجرا و اینگه بنجامین بر چند صندلی و میز متفاوت نشست جلب نظر میکرد. خانواده ای که متوجه این ماجرا شدند، غذای اضافه سفارش داده شده را با خود به خانه بردند تا پیش یک خارجی شرمنده نشوند!
بنجامین میگوید مردم بیش از از آنچه که میتوانند بخورند سفارش میدهند و همه ساله در دنیا بیلون ها تن غذا بدیوسیله دور ریخته میشود. این درحالی است که میلیونها نفر از مردم از گرسنگی رنج میبرند. بنجامین روز 14 فروردین ایران را ترک کرد تا در بالای درخت به زندگیش ادامه دهد. سال گذشته پس از ورود ملوانان انگلیسی به ایران و دستگیریشان ، من در انگلستان بودم و به رئیس انجمن زیست محیطی شرق انگلستان گفتم که شما ملوان نظامی را به آیهای ایران آوردید و دستگیر شدند ولی من ماهی هایم را به آیهای شما آوردم و کسی انها را دستگیر نکرد. بنجامین از این گفته خبر داشت و دوست داشت و در رسانه ها این گفته من را خوانده بود که "موجودات زنده زندگی راحت تری از آنسان دارند، آنها مرزهای سیاسی را به رسمیت نمی شناسند و از مرزها عبور میکنند." بنجامین پیشنهاد داد که این عمل نمادین به نوعی دیگر صورت بگیرد. در اعتراض به زمزمه های جنگ و در تعامل با یکدیگر ما تصمیم کرفتد این پرنده صلح در درخت کهنسالی که او زندگی میکند نصب شود. کبوتر صلح را به همراه بنچامین با انگلستان ارسال کردم تا بر درخت بریتانیایی آشیانه کند. ما این پرنده را پرنده صلح نام گذاری کردیم. ما توافق کردیم که بنجامین در حفره ای در بالای درختی که زندگی میکند آشیانه ای بسازد و پرنده حجاری شده را در آن آشیانه نصب کند در حال حاضر کشورهای غربی و از جمله انگلستان به بهانه مسئله هسته ای ایران را تهدید به جنگ میکنند. اما آنچه من به مردم انگلستان هدیه کردم پرنده صلح است. بنجامین در این ارتباط سفرش به ایران و تاثیر پذیریش گفت پس از کار در کارگاهم گفت که من متوجه شدم که که زندگی من در مجسمه سازی خلاصه نمیشود. من قصد دارم آنچه که در ایران آموختم در طبیعتی که زدگی میکنم توسعه دهم و در تعامل با دیگر هنرمندان محیطی مرکز هنر محیطی تاسیس نمایم. آنچه که در ایران رنج بردم تفاوت فرهنگ میهمان نوازانه داخل خانه ها و عملکرد متفاوت در خیابان است که کمتر به حقوق دیگران و قوانین توجه دارند. این رفتار در نوع راه رفتن عبور از خیابان و رانندگی دیده میشود. من نوعی هماهنگی در طبیعت معماری ایران میبینم. نظام خانوادگی مستحکم است و اینکه به مسافر غریبه چقدر محبت میکنند مرا تحت تاثیر قرار داد. وی در ارتباط با جشنواره گفت با توجه به اینکه جشنواره فاقد حامی مالی بود ، این شگفت اگیر بود که بیش از یکصد هنرمند جوان با کارشان پیام قویشان را به مردم جهان ارسال کردند. وی برگزاری جشنواره علیه جنگ را یک ضرورت تلقی کرد. از آنجا که ما کمتر صلح را تجربه کرده ایم. زمانیکه به آبادان و خرمشهر رفتم از مناطقی که در آنها جنگ صورت گرفته بود بازدید داشتم. جنگ محیط را به شدت آلوده کرده است و میدانم که هنوز هم هنوز به دلیل وجود مین ها در زمین مردم عادی پاهایشان را از دست میدهند. بنجامین همنچنین تاکید داشت که سفر به ایران و آشنایی با هنرمندان محیطی تاثیر عمیقس بر من داشت. میدانم به حای نگهداری اثر هنری در کنج خانه و لذت فردی اثر محیطی پیام قویش را به ما میرساند. ما اثری داریم که عموم مردم از آن لذت میبرند. این نوع هنر میتواند پیام شفافی را به همه مردم جهان ارسال مند که در هماهنگی با یکدیگر زندگی کنند نه بر علیه یکدیگر.
Print on Sanin in Maranjab Desert
Dream of Peace in Persian Gulf
Dream of Peace in Persian Gulf
New Print on Sand in the Coast of Persian Gulf
New Carved Rocks in Hormoz Island (Persian Gulf) March 2007
Reaction to ignoring historic site
Environmental Art Festival on the Persian Gulf
Installation of cylinder and Sand Print
Click and download large Images
Persian Gulf Environmental Art Festival Second section
Persian Gulf Environmental Art Festival Second section Environmental Art Festival on the Persian Gulf
Click and download large Images
Environmental Installation and Music with Garbage
More: Painting on fabric by colored Earth
Designs on Portraiture by Red Earth
Designs on Portraiture by Red Earth
Environmental Installations and Performance
Dream of Peace in Persian Gulf
Dream of Peace in Persian Gulf
Print on Sanin in Maranjab Desert
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Benjamin Hewett On the first January 2008 we received British sculptor, Benjamin Hewett (Ben) who came to our Paradise.
He showed me his carvings that to me seem to be the standard of an artist from the west, but I was impressed of his life, and the way that he lives in the top of an old oak tree in west Wales and usually consumes and lives off the food which is “out of date”. He was not fully aware that the way that he lives can be a good base to be an eco-artist. He lives on the top of a tree and is sensitive about the waste of food. What he needed was to write a statement and introduce this way of life as an art concept.
Ben worked in my studio for three weeks and produced a number of carvings. As we worked, we discussed a lot and now he agrees with me that his life can be his art. In my view his tree house and why he eats wasted food is more interesting than his carvings.
In January 2008, Ben participated in the; Dream of Peace, the 15th Environmental Art Festival in the Persian Gulf, working individually and helping us to realize other collaborative projects, supporting peace and a reaction against war.
Then Ben traveled to different parts of Iran and exploring our country, in some areas he continued to produce sculptures.
Ben during the festival
He stayed in Iran for three months and now he is proficient in Persian. In my recent trip to the central desert of Iran he accompanied me and my family and we traveled to the Maranjab desert on the southern side of the Sea of Salt. First we traveled to the historic city of Kashan, and from there we targeted the Sea of Salt. On our way we explored the desert and saw the beauty of the new spring flowers coloring this normally arid landscape and the creatures of the desert.
I know that this area is mostly sand and desert. I designed and produced three cylinder seals. Ben and my son Behzad assisted me to print these new seals in the sand and then took photos of me, while I worked. I usually suggest a location and start to print. Sometime a single line which shows a sequence of creatures and sometimes I make a pattern. The best photos can be taken in the early morning or the late afternoon when the sun is at its lowest. More
We visited and old fortified building which served the travelers of the caravan (Carawansara) in the southern part of the Sea of Salt. It was amazing to see such a paradise in the middle of desert and imagine in the old time when people trod the Silk Road and after fifty kilometers walk each day used it as a place of rest.
On our way one of my vehicles had a puncture. I didn’t want to risk driving on the spare wheel, so I decided to drive fifty kilometer back and repair my tire then continue my journey. In this remote region it is dangerous to go into it without a 4X4.
Ben in Sea of Salt
Our final destination was the Sea of Salt. We drove to south east part of the sea which has no water but is wet. More
It looked like a magical land and we felt that we were on anther planet. A layer of salt covered everywhere. The texture and colors were so different I used a stick and designed many fish on the sea bed. When I scratched through the salt layers and revealed the clay beneath. I felt this sea needed some fish. More
When we returned to Kashan we also visited some historic houses. They are amazing in architectural terms of design, space and geometrical patterns.
While Ben was with us he always criticizesed people who left their garbage, plastic bottles and bags in nature. He also criticizes people around the world including Iranians that waste food. He said on his way to Iran while in transit in Milan airport he couldn’t let the food in the restaurant be wasted and happily devoured it. I suggest a performance related to this fact for his last dinner before his departure to the UK.
هنرمند انگلیسی بنجامین در اعتراض به اصراف غذا در روز 13 فروردین اضافه غذای مردم بر وری میز ها را خورد و سیر شد.
Ben consumed the left over food wasted by its customers in a fast food restaurant near Engelab square in Tehran
We went to a fast food restaurant near Engelab square and Ben made one performance. He consumed the left over food wasted by its customers. This was a symbolic action to show people they should not waste food. They should buy only as much as they can eat. Billions of tons of food are thrown away each year, while millions of people suffering from starvation and hunger. The costumers were surprised why this foreigner who was eating the left over food. Some of them realized that their food may be eaten and quickly finished their plates and took the left overs with them.
On the 2nd of April 2008, Ben went back home. Before he left I give him one of my carvings which had a design of a bird. I called this bird “the Bird of Peace”. Ben will take it home and make a nest in a hollow of a tree where he lives and this bird will start a new life.
در اعتراض به زمزمه های جنگ و در تعامل با یکدیگر ما تصمیم کرفتد این پرنده صلح در درخت کهنسالی که او زندگی میکند نصب شود. کبوتر صلح را به همراه بنچامین با انگلستان ارسال کردم تا بر درخت بریتانیایی آشیانه کند. . As an Iranian, I thought this can be the best present to give to the people of UK.
I remember in April last year when I was in UK, at the same time when the British navy trespassed into Iranian waters and were arrested by the Iranian navy, I took my fish to the water of the Uk and no one arrested my fish. Creatures of our planet live without borders.
INTERVIEW with Benjamin Hewett: Que; why have you decided to live within nature? Only after thirty years of living in London did I realize that there was more to life than commuting to work every day on a crowded train or stuck in traffic jam breathing in fumes. Then after much thought I made the move to the countryside It was only until I built my tree house and that I started living in it that I understood the power of nature. The tree house is designed to move with the wind, and only when you are living in it with high winds do you understand why nature must be strong and compatible with its surroundings in order to live in harmony. Que; what is your motivation for traveling to Iran I have known Iranian people in London and enjoyed their company and cuisine. But also was intrigued to see behind the curtain that the west has put up, the propaganda that has tarred the face of Iran. I wanted to travel blind without a guide book to just let it happen, and not follow the same path as other tourists. Que; what inspiration did you gain from environmental artists? Only after I was invited to work on Nadalians studio did I realize that there was more to my work than just sculpture, and that the Freegan lifestyle that I live was very much connected to the environment! I felt that I had spread the message, and concentrate more on environmental art. I am planning to use what I have learnt in Iran and start my own environmental art center, and collaborate with other artists in this field. Que; what disturbed you in Iran? One of the things that upset me most was the way they treated public spaces. The people spoke of their respect for old traditions, and faiths but I felt they didn’t keep hold of them when they were outside of home. Having enjoyed being invited into Iranian family homes, and treated with fine hospitality, cleanliness, friendship, and respect. For then to go into the street where people somehow lost some of these attributes, and had less respect for each other or the public space. Crossing the road became a nightmare everyone obliviously unaware of the other driver or pedestrian, the blatant throwing of garbage, and wasted food.
Que; what impressed you in Iran?
That traditional skills are kept alive, and that traditions are not lost they are passed down from father to son. After previously visiting the Taj Mahal in India realized that its architect is Persian, I became fascinated by the old designs of Iran. All around the country I saw the harmony between nature, and architecture. That there Is a good family bond, and helpfulness for the traveler I found that I could go with their agenda, and that’s just what happened to impress me.
Que; what is your impression about this festival? Having been told that the festival had never had any outside sponsorship I was very impressed. Arriving tired after a long bus ride, and boat trip, I was brightened up by an amazing island with a Martian type landscape surrounded by clear blue water. More than a hundred, young artists attended the festival over a few days. Their environmental art will send a strong message to the people of our planet. Que; what is the impact of war on the environment? As we all know there will never be peace in our world, but by making a peaceful protest with art we can get the message across to others in the hope they will listen. Visiting Abadan, and Khoramshar I saw at first hand the debris and scars of war when only across the river Iraq lay with its daily bloodshed. After wars the environments become polluted by it, people still losing legs long after the soldiers have gone. Que; what we environmental artist can do for global peace? Since coming recently into environmental art, I have found that it sends a clear message directly to us, instead of having a piece of art work in your home for the individual to enjoy. You have piece of work that the general public can understand, and learn from. The works can send a clearer message to all that our earth needs live in harmony, and not against it.
CV; Benjamin Hewett He was born in London at the height of the sixties, and was brought up by an architect, After his studies at school he went onto to take an apprentaship in marble masonry, with his new skills he traveled around the world working for marble companies in countries such as Thailand, Japan, Australia, and the USA, with this experience he returned to London to start a business after many years in London he felt it was time for a change, and sold his business packed his bag, and brought an old camper van and headed west to Wales to go visit a blacksmith at his forge after a short stay he decided to buy an old barn, and started making a new life, but he felt that he wanted to open new horizons and become a sculptor/artist so he went to college to learn sculpture/bronze investing, and after completing and higher national diploma he set about building his studio to become the sculptor he desired to be.
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