BAVAND BEHPOUR

Bavand Behpoor did an MA in Contemporary Art Theory at Goldsmiths College, London, after finishing his MA in Architecture at Shiraz University. He is currently teaching at Tehran art universities and has worked as a curator and art advisor to Mohsen Gallery in Tehran. His writings and reviews have appeared in journals such as Third Text and The Daily Star, Lebanon.

1. I am standing in front of the movie theatre. From the façade, you cannot tell it has been closed for twenty years. I hold my hands next to my face and look inside. What is visible does not quench curiosity, it increases it. A sumptuous winding staircase rises to the second floor. Some dusty closed box-office wickets; The rest in darkness. Delicate golden door frames. Everything is a la mode. A la mode de quand? A la mode, anyway. What is produced according to mode preserves in itself a passion for fashion. It is written on the showcase: “The Hustler, starring Paul Newman”. You cannot say whether it was screened last week or three decades ago. It is written on the other corner with temporary colours which have lasted for years, “family section available”. It could have been easily wiped off the glass. There is nothing nostalgic in the air. Probably it is only accidental that the cinema is closed at this moment. No glass has been broken, nothing destructed. When was the last time its doors was opened? Sorayya roundabout, Gorgan roundabout, Namjoo roundabout. Three names for the same place ...