In 1964, Jürgen Wittdorf created the series "Youth and Sport" as a commissioned work for the German University of Physical Culture (DHfK) in Leipzig. At just 32 years old, he achieved a masterpiece in the form of large-format woodcuts and linocuts – impressive both artistically and technically. The series also reveals a political dimension: competitive sports were used for propaganda purposes in East Germany. Wittdorf, himself homosexual, could not express this openly – his homoerotic depictions went unnoticed by the cultural officials.

Farshad Shafiee (*1968 in Tehran, Iran) is a painter, illustrator, and animation artist living in Berlin. He studied painting at Azad University in Tehran and has been engaged for many years with the symbolism of Persian art and the connection of traditional imagery with contemporary forms of expression.

For over three decades, Shafiee has worked in the fields of painting, illustration, and animation. For his animated film Mohammad Zakariya Razi, for which he was responsible for script, direction, and production management, he received several renowned awards. His works have been exhibited in Iran and internationally, including Armenia, China, and Germany.

At the heart of his work are memory, cultural heritage, symbolism, and identity. Through painting, drawing, and mixed media, Shafiee creates poetic visual worlds that combine personal experiences with collective cultural memories.

Farshad Shafiee lives and works in Berlin.