by Text of the speech by Master Jalil Ziapour at the Fighting Cock (Khorus Jangi) Art Association; published in the journal “The Cock’s Claw (Panjeh-ye Khorus)” (No. 1), 30 April 1953
“The Cock’s Claw” journal; No. 1; May 1953
Who does not know to what extent our artistic environment is lifeless? The enlightened young and old who keep pace with their times, who recognize the interests and character of a living society, and whose minds are not antiquated, know that a living nation, on the path of advancing its culture and art, must endure pain and hardship, must be combative, and must root out the weeds; and they know that without a stubborn struggle, it never moves forward. Many are the individuals who, merely by holding to historical determinism, believe that this solver of problems will, willy-nilly, change and reform the state of affairs, and that therefore, striving to advance a goal is useless; these individuals are greatly mistaken. For historical determinism is the reaction to our past actions, and in fact, the result of historical determinism is reaction, “and this itself is distinct from bringing life to reform in the necessary and correct way. That is, reaction is a deterministic reality, not a reformative necessity.”
It must be understood that the utterances of such individuals are nothing other than the weakening of minds toward inactivity and non-struggle. These individuals are poison and opium; these individuals numb the nerves and pour narcotic and sleep-inducing drugs into the veins and sinews of man. These individuals are the very same decayed-minded people who, with their lethargy-inducing thoughts (which they wrap in the guise of a few new sentences), deceive society and rob intellects. If these individuals join forces with other decayed-minded people who do not even know how to disguise their thoughts, a great clamor will arise. It is these individuals who make up the majority of the people in our environment. It is these individuals who have grown up with dictated knowledge, and as a result, intellect, nobility, and the spirit of struggle are dead in them; they spend all their time in hypocrisy and make the world of our lives as it is, but now, “that pitcher is broken and that cup has spilled.” No longer can the weapons of excommunication, intrigues, slanders, and mockeries drive from the field the fighters who have put such people to the test for years. They have left no strength for the defense of cultural life for our youth, who are the men of our today and tomorrow. But we must know that one person out of thousands is enough to awaken the sense of defense in everyone and reclaim the right to cultural life.
A small group of these fighters, who set out a few years ago under the name of “Fighting Cock”, warned all the worshippers of the old and the leaders of the tightly-packed masses. They first attempted to extinguish this struggle with ridicule, and then with negative campaigns and insults. Everyone, by whatever means they could, spared no effort in dismantling this struggle! The strange thing is that one sees people show so much stubbornness, with the utmost diligence, to keep their old knowledge standing, and be ready for every kind of confrontation, yet not be ready to struggle against their own ignorance! Yes, studying and toiling is always difficult. Discovering the new is a heavy burden, for it disrupts habits and shatters the peace of mind based on weakness of character.
It was during the time of “Sa’ed” (the prime minister of the time) that, by order of Dr. Eqbal in the Ministry of Culture, they arranged that highly ridiculous administrative trial of several hours for me, asking why I had chosen this style without authorization and why I was spreading this practice in Iran?! The interrogators were so ignorant that they did not distinguish the meaning of Cubism from Communism, and managed affairs blindly! These are the ones who nurture our people! It is these very people who reinforce the short-sightedness and ignorance of the environment. What can they do? They are the nurturers of a colonial and imposed culture. If they were accompanied by the necessary knowledge, there would be no fear. Even now, there is no fear. For we have a specific (appropriate) goal on the path of advancing art. Reality, for us, is above all. We bring various artistic issues to discussion, from whatever group or institution they may be. We accept criticisms and also put them to discussion and critique. Our war proceeds solely for the purpose of advancing artistic thought and raising the level of art. And all backwardness is doomed to decline. To advance this purpose (which is out of the utmost goodwill), every time we are forced to be silent, we will charge forward more fiery and cutting, with the utmost intensity and harshness, and with ever more stubbornness and obstinacy.
