The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has registered the art of miniature on its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in its 15th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on Wednesday.

The registration was approved following proposal made by Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey and Uzbekistan in the 15^th session of Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee in Kingston under the chair of Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, reported Taqrib News Agency (TNA).
 
Deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization, Mohammad-Hassan Talebian hailed the registration of the miniature art and said,” Our mission is of higher importance from now on to safeguard and promote the art across the globe.”

He enumerated educational courses and exhibitions as two ways to promote the art for future generation.

The miniature is a type of two-dimensional artwork that involves the design and creation of small paintings on books, papier-mâché, rugs, textiles, walls, ceramics and other items using raw materials such as gold, silver and various organic substances.

The patterns of the miniature represent beliefs, worldviews and lifestyles in a pictorial fashion and also gained a new character through the Islamic influence.

In all cases, it is a traditional craft typically transmitted through mentor-apprentice relationships (non-formal education) and considered as an integral part of each society’s social and cultural identity.

The miniature displays a specific type of perspective in which the size of the figures changes according to their importance - a key difference from realistic and naturalistic styles.