Dastan Gallery was founded in 2012 with the launch of Dastan’s Basement, dedicating most of its efforts to showcasing works by the new generation of contemporary Iranian artists. From the very beginning, Dastan recognized fresh potentials in this emerging generation and, leveraging its unique spatial characteristics, provided young artists with the opportunity for free experimentation.
To explore new artistic possibilities, Dastan introduced additional venues under the Dastan: Outside initiative, continuously collaborating with artists to present innovative ways of exhibiting art. These spaces were not always originally intended for artistic purposes, but the goal was to engage them with art, allowing works to be experienced in various contexts beyond their initial presentation. Notable Dastan: Outside* projects include exhibitions at Sam Café locations across Tehran and *Forty Drawings and More* by Iman Raad, which was held in the forme Shirin Confectionery building.
Two years after the opening of Dastan’s Basement, another space was added to the program: Sam Art, which, during its six-month operation, provided a larger exhibition area for more established artists and facilitated larger-scale projects. Located within a shopping center, this space also attracted a new audience, aligning with Dastan’s vision of expanding the boundaries of art presentation.
In 2015, the gallery launched Dastan+2 near Dastan’s Basement, addressing the need for collaborations with key figures in Iranian art history and established contemporary artists. For larger-scale exhibitions, Dastan utilized V-Gallery (as part of the Dastan: Outside initiative), hosting projects such as Bitab, Outsider Art, Geometry, and Update 5.0. The exhibitions at this venue were tailored to its expansive space.
One of *Dastan: Outside*’s notable projects, *Electric Room*, was launched in the summer of 2017 near *V-Gallery*. Designed as a fifty-week experimental initiative, it occupied a 30-square-meter room, focusing on site-specificity, experimental approaches, and innovative presentation methods. *Electric Room* centered on small-scale experimental projects and research-based presentations, including performances, exhibitions, intimate events, and single-piece displays. Above all, the space adapted to the artists’ needs, with its physical characteristics offering new creative potentials.
