The role of visual arts in improving intercultural dialogue between sister cities, research project by Ramin Hajianfard, City University Malaysia, would appreciate your input.
Dr. Ramin Hajianfard, Senior Lecturer with the Faculty of Art at City University Malaysia, is looking for those with interests in visual arts and/or sister-city exchanges to complete a brief set of questions. The project is titled Intercultural Exchanges Between Isfahan and Kuala Lumpur in the Context of Visual Arts. Your observations and experiences are critical to understanding how visual art can foster intercultural dialogue.
This study examines how visual arts can strengthen the sister-city partnership between Isfahan and Kuala Lumpur—established in 1997—by fostering intercultural dialogue, preserving shared heritage, and advancing Sustainable Development Goals in education, urban development, and global partnerships. Employing a qualitative approach that combines semi-structured text interviews with experts, artists, and intercultural specialists, alongside case studies and document analysis, the research identifies both the barriers (e.g., limited past collaborations and misaligned policies) and the opportunities (e.g., complementary Islamic art traditions and digital platforms) for meaningful exchange. Grounded in cultural semiotics and intercultural aesthetics, the findings will inform policy alignment, institutional partnerships, and practical programs—such as reciprocal exhibitions, artist residencies, and virtual platforms—to enhance mutual understanding and sustainable cultural cooperation between the two cities.
The questions to be answered are these:
- Arts as a Dialogue Tool: From a global perspective, what makes visual art an effective tool for fostering intercultural dialogue between communities or cities?
- Respecting Cultural Heritage: How can international art initiatives be designed to respectfully highlight each participant’s cultural heritage while engaging diverse audiences?
- Aligning with Global Goals: In your experience, how do intercultural arts exchanges contribute to broader goals like education and sustainable community building (for instance, what impacts have you seen related to learning outcomes or community resilience)?
- Sustaining Partnerships: What strategies or best practices are important for establishing and sustaining successful intercultural art partnerships (such as those aligning with international collaboration goals like SDG 17)?
If you are interested, please contact him directly via email.
His main area of research is on Mughal miniature painting, with a secondary emphasis on interfaith dialogue during the Mughal Empire of India. His MA was on peace painting, resulting in the following article:
Center for Intercultural Dialogue 