Dastan's program includes Dastan's Basement, Dastan+2 and Dastan:Outside. In addition to hosting exhibitions, Dastan publishes artist books as well as monographs on Iranian art, features film screenings, performance projects and other events. Dastan Gallery’s original space, Dastan’s Basement, was established in 2012 in Tehran, Iran. The Basement is dedicated to exhibiting emerging and experimental Iranian art. In October 2015, Dastan opened its fist "standard" space, Dastan+2, within walking distance of the Basement to showcase works by established Iranian artists and masters. Since the opening of its primary space, Dastan’s Basement in 2012, Dastan has continuously hosted pop-up curated exhibitions around the city of Tehran under the title Dastan:Outside, including shows at Sam Art (in Sam Center Mall), V-Gallery, and Shirin Confectionary's building. The program features exhibitions that are usually site-specific and mostly involve experimental and non-traditional formats of exhibiting art. Dastan:Outside's newest temporary space, Electric Room, which was opened in June 2017 in downtown Tehran right across Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, focuses on showcasing short-term experimental projects and occasional single-piece exhibits. Since the opening of its primary space, Dastan’s Basement, in 2012, Dastan has continuously hosted pop-up curated exhibitions around the city of Tehran under the title Dastan:Outside, including shows at Sam Art (in Sam Center Mall), V-Gallery, and Shirin Confectionary's building. The program, aimed to extend the gallery’s program outside of its regular venues, features exhibitions that are usually site-specific and mostly involve experimental and non-traditional formats of exhibiting art. Dastan:Outside's newest temporary space, Electric Room, which was opened in June 2017 in downtown Tehran right across Faculty of Fine Arts and Architecture, focuses on showcasing short-term experimental projects, research-based presentations, smaller-scale events, and occasional single-piece exhibits. Hormoz Hematian (b. 1984, Tehran, Iran) is the founder and director of Dastan Gallery. He studied civil engineering at the University of Maryland and University of British Colombia. Previous to opening Dastan’s Basement in 2012, he was involved in various consulting services and construction projects.
