Romain Champalaune is a photographer and the organizer of this exhibition, at the Centre d’Animation Mathis in Paris, dedicated to Iranian underground music:
“In Iran, in accordance with Islamic strictly enforced law since the Revolution, all music is required to be as neutral possible, lest it provoke undesirable “internal emotions.” Rock, rap, metal and electronic music are all banned. Thought to be satanic and Western by the religious authorities, anyone who practices, records, or performs music deemed zirzamin (Farsi for “underground”) risks severe punishment. For these musicians it’s hopeless to request the holy authorization of the Minister of Culture and Guidance that could give the freedom to play .
Between 1997 and 2005, under the presidency of the reformist Khatami liberty and tolerance increased . That glint of hope was dashed by the arrival of Ahmadinejad. The authorities grip on musicians tightened after the 2009 elections and riots.
Popularized somewhat by Bahman Ghobadi’s film, No One Knows About Persian Cats, the underground movement actually benefits from its obscurity. There’s the rub: a musician plays so that his music can be heard, but in Iran, if too many people hear it, pretty soon fans aren’t the only ones listening. So musicians hide, practice in basements, and secretly record CDs for their friends, waiting for the day when they’ll be able to leave the country to play freely. For those waiting for a visa, for those saving money, and for those who plan to stay in spite of it all, there’s only one thing to do: keep on playing.”
