The Empress and I.

We can all remember special moments that have marked our lives in some mercurial manner. In July 1977, my father and I visited Iran as guestof her Majesty, the Empress of Iran, the lovely Farah Dibba. During this month we had the privilege of visiting this beautiful country in a very thorough and detailed fashion. Her majesty was an incredible host, and her office made sure that we would see and visit all the importanthistorical sites. Needless to say that as an adolescent, it was just an amazing experience.

Her majesty was a major collector of my father art and a profound admirer. She was an ardent protector of the arts in general and also fought hardily to modernize Iran. The rest, unfortunately, we are all familiar with. A “stupid” American President abandoned the Shah and today we are all paying for this terrible mistake, of epic proportion.

Living in Manhattan provides many interesting opportunities; today wasreally one of them. I was meeting a friend of mine for coffee and walking the fame establishment, I recognized, her majesty sitting with a group of friend for coffee. I fixed her in the eyes and proceeded to talk with her. At first, she was surprised but quickly I saw a smile inher face when I mentioned that Agam was my father, and that she had invited me. She remembered all the details of our visit and was

extremely courteous and warm. One particular detail attracted her attention, I was a student in the same school, she attended before theShah married her, it was an architectural school in Paris , ESA, that was our common special connection. She inquired about me and what I had

become, I told her that my time is devoted to my art and that she is welcomed to visit me and see some of my creations. Hopefully, she will come and visit. I will not repeat the full content of our conversation .I must say that after so many years of not seeing her, I was very touched and in bliss , I had relived a very very special moment in fast motion thirty and some odd years ago, this afternoon. A few minutes after, another good friend, Nicolas Berggruen from school years appeared with his girlfriend, that I have not seen in a long time. I was very pleased to see him and invited him to visit my studio on his next trip to New York. Decidedly, it was an afternoon of good memories and good history, is it not what life is about: “collecting wonderful

friends and wonderful memories.”