Exhibition: “Orient and Occident” – A Dialogue
Persian calligraphy by Ahmad Tavakkoli and photographs by Joachim Koetzle. Exhibition from May 8 to June 30, 2026.
Both artists can be found at the exhibition on the following dates, starting at 5 pm: May 22, June 5, 17 and 30, 2026.
Ahmad Tavakkoli has been working on the technical application of Persian calligraphy to ceramics. Works by lyric poets, philosophers, and mystics such as Jalal-e-Din Mohamad Molavi "Rumi" and Hafez have captivated thinkers and poets since the beginning of the 13th century and are part of the world's cultural heritage. Goethe's "West-Eastern Divan" was inspired by the works (Divan) of Hafez. Tavakkoli is fascinated by the profound lyricism of these and other texts by famous mystics and philosophers who have shaped both Persian and world literature. Using Persian calligraphy, Tavakkoli has composed images for these texts on ceramic tiles. This technique is deeply rooted in Persian culture.
Joachim Koetzle engaged intensively with the poetic and philosophical texts of the Persian writers selected for the exhibition. Translating these highly concise texts into photographs presented a challenge. In selecting the photographs, he was guided by both formal aesthetic considerations and his intuition. His aim was to find an expression that did justice to the panels while allowing viewers room for their own interpretations.
Ahmad Tavakkoli, born in Tehran, Iran, studied architecture and cultural studies at the University of Bremen, qualified as a digital media designer (image and sound), and trained as a television journalist. He also teaches media practice.
Joachim Koetzle, born in Ulm in 1955. In the early 1970s, he began his photographic work for the Ulm Theater and the local press. In 1976, he moved to Berlin and attended the "Lette Verein" vocational school for photography. After completing his training as a photographer, he worked on film productions in Berlin. In 1982, he moved to Bremen and worked as an advertising photographer. In 1996, he was employed as a photographer at the Bremen School Museum, and in 1998, he transferred to the Bremen State Archives. Alongside these permanent positions, he has worked for independent theater groups, museums, various clients, and has also held small solo exhibitions and self-published books. He retired in 2021 and is currently pursuing photographic projects with diverse focuses and reviewing the image archive he has built up over 50 years.