East-West Divan: Contemporary Art from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan

East-West Divan presented recent works by 10 artists from three countries with a rich artistic heritage - Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan - all of which are often better known in the West for stories of conflict than for their vibrant cultures.

East-West Divan challenged negative perceptions of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan through works by both emerging and established artists, whose pieces celebrated the links between the artistic traditions of Venice and ancient Persia. The exhibition included new works of art responding to traditions such as miniature painting, calligraphy and Islamic geometric design, revealing how contemporary artists have found new ways to critique, challenge and transform this cultural inheritance.