TEHRAN -- The fifth edition of Baran Auction, specializing in Iranian and Islamic art, has opened in Tehran with more than 80 works on display, marking the auction’s return after a seven-year hiatus and the expansion of its focus to include Persian miniature painting.
Speaking at the opening ceremony at the Rayzan International Conference Center, Mahboubeh Kazemi Dolabi, founder of Baran Auction and director of Taraneh Baran Gallery, said the decision to resume the event reflected a commitment to preserving and promoting Iran’s cultural heritage despite difficult circumstances.
“I am happy that we are together again after seven years,” she said, expressing hope that returning participants would appreciate the works selected for this edition and connect with the pieces on display.
Reflecting on the intervening years, Kazemi Dolabi cited the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in late 2019, and subsequent difficulties facing the country. She said she regarded the promotion of culture during challenging times as a responsibility that required cultural resilience.
“We consider ourselves cultural soldiers of this country,” she said, explaining that this conviction had been her principal motivation for organizing the fifth edition despite warnings about the considerable risks involved.
She added that her decision was driven by a firm belief in the future of Iran’s culture and arts, particularly its traditional and civilizational heritage.
This year’s auction is dedicated to the memory of Mahmoud Farshchian, the internationally renowned Iranian master of Persian miniature painting who died in August 2025. 
Previous editions paid tribute to prominent figures in Iranian calligraphy, including Mir Emad Hassani, Abdolmajid Darvish, Mirza Gholamreza and Emad al-Kottab.
Calligraphy has traditionally been the principal specialty of Taraneh Baran Gallery and Baran Auction. The latest edition marks an expansion into negargari, or Persian miniature painting, which Kazemi Dolabi described as another of Iran’s distinctive artistic traditions with an international following.
The expansion has been marked by the unveiling of one of Farshchian’s major works. Kazemi Dolabi said the painting represented resilience, steadfastness 
and hope, adding that she hoped the exhibition would attract a broad audience.
The seven-year interval also provided an opportunity for the Taraneh Baran collection to pursue several cultural initiatives, she said.
Restoration of the family home of Iranian writer Jalal Al-e Ahmad began in 2020. The property is now nearing completion and is expected to become an active Taraneh Baran branch dedicated to Iranian and Islamic culture and art.
The organization also staged a major 40-day exhibition of works by Reza Mafi at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art. In 2024, it organized Iran’s first specialized exhibition of Quranic art at Niavaran Cultural Center, an initiative it hopes to repeat in Iran and other countries in the region.
Kazemi Dolabi expressed hope that peace and stability would return to Iran and other countries experiencing insecurity, allowing cultural activities to continue.
The fifth Baran Auction exhibition is open to the public on October 28 and 29 at the Raizen International Conference Center. The auction is scheduled for October 30.