The Persian Revival

Maryam Mirzakhani

1977 – 2017

The first woman — and first Iranian — to receive the Fields Medal (2014), the highest honour in mathematics. A professor at Stanford University, Mirzakhani’s revolutionary work in geometry and dynamical systems opened entirely new territories in mathematics, earning her universal admiration as one of the greatest mathematical minds of her generation.

Fereydoon Moshiri

One of Iran’s most beloved modern poets, Moshiri gifted the Persian language with verse of rare lyrical beauty and emotional depth. His work bridges the classical tradition — drawing on Hafez and Rumi — and the modern sensibility, speaking to themes of love, longing, and the human condition in language accessible to all generations.

Shirin Ebadi

Nobel Peace Prize laureate (2003) and the first Iranian woman to serve as a judge, Ebadi has dedicated her life to the defence of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. A courageous advocate whose intellectual rigour and moral clarity have made her a defining voice for justice, recognised the world over.

Abbas Kiarostami

1940 – 2016

A master of world cinema, Kiarostami brought Persian landscape, philosophy, and storytelling to audiences across the globe. His Palme d’Or-winning Taste of Cherry (1997) is among the most celebrated films of the 20th century. Lauded by Godard, Scorsese, and Bergman alike, his poetic realism transformed the language of film.

Fereydoon Hoveyda

A distinguished Iranian diplomat, novelist, and intellectual, Hoveyda served as Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations and authored numerous works exploring culture, identity, and the dialogue between East and West. His life embodied the cosmopolitan spirit of Persian civilisation — learned, curious, and deeply humane.

Nasrin Hosseini

A contemporary Persian visual artist based in Germany, Hosseini works at the compelling intersection of traditional calligraphic heritage and modern abstraction. Her canvases transform the ancient grammar of Persian script and geometric ornament into vibrant, meditative compositions that speak to diaspora, memory, and the enduring power of mark-making.