Lugano
Abbas Kiarostami was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1940. From a young age he showed a strong inclination for art: at 18 years old he won a painting competition and later studied visual arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Tehran. He began his career as a graphic designer in the advertising industry, before moving into the world of cinema.
In 1970, at a time when the Iranian New Wave was emerging, he collaborated with Ebrahim Forouzesh to create a film division within the Center for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. With the support of the institute, Kiarostami made his first short film, The Bread and Alley, which lasted ten minutes.
The 1980s and 1990s represent the most significant period of his career as a director, during which he gained wide international recognition. His work was praised by leading figures of world cinema, including Jean-Luc Godard, Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog.
In addition to directing, Kiarostami also distinguished herself in the field of visual arts. His photographs, poems and short films have been exhibited in galleries around the world, helping to consolidate his role as a versatile and visionary artist.
Abbas Kiarostami passed away in Paris in 2016.
