Sazmanab

History

Sazmanab was established in 2008, by artist and curator Sohrab Kashani, and was originally based in Sadeghiyeh district in the Western part of Tehran. At the time, Sazmanab was located in a small apartment (Kashani's home-studio), directly across the street from Tehran’s Department of Water for the Sadeghiyeh district.

In 2009, Sazmanab expanded into a fully functioning project space where a variety of events and activities were held in collaboration with local artists and curators. In 2010, Sazmanab renovated the work-space. Shortly after the refurbishment, Sazmanab began its residency program. While some resident artists were housed in the apartment where Sazmanab was located, other resident artists were provided with living and working space in other areas of Tehran. Throughout 2012, Sazmanab focused on relationships with other institutions, museums, galleries, and curators outside Iran.

In early 2014, Sazmanab relocated to an old building on Khaghani Street near Darvaze Dolat in downtown Tehran. Sazmanab reopened launched its new Ab/Anbar gallery (co-founded and directed by Kashani) in October 2014 with an exhibition by Iranian-born artist Babak Golkar. In early 2015, Kashani left Ab/Anbar gallery but continued Sazmanab’s programming and activities in the Darvaze Dolat building. In late 2015, Kashani and Sazmanab moved out of the Darvaze Dolat building completely. Ab/Anbar gallery, no longer managed by Kashani and Sazmanab, continues to operate as a commercial art gallery in Sazmanab’s former building. As of 2016, Sazmanab creates projects and publications, and hosts exhibitions and events off-site in collaboration with other spaces and venues.