Lot 43: Farah Ossouli (Iran, born 1953) Honeymoon,

Honeymoon, gouache on cardboard, signed and dated 2008 in English and signed and dated in Farsi lower left, framed, 74.6 x 74.3cm (29 3/8 x 29 1/4in).

"This painting challenges the question of the honeymoon at the start of a sweet life. The composition of the painting is inspired by traditional Persian painting as well as Iranian Kilim and Kaba. Divided forms of the pond and orchard within the plane of the painting indicates veiled geometry in Islamic art.

"Colors, position of figures, minute details, and motifs serve to depict a world full of kindness, joy, and hope. Two lovers cuddled at the center of the painting are in a green surrounding which connotes a garden. Their dreams, in the form of a nest, can be seen among the branches of a plane tree on top of the painting. Plane tree itself is a sacred and precious symbol in Iranian art. In the background, an open window looks at a starry night..

"There is festivity and drinking, and unaware of the future, the two lovers are looking at the two birds. The two birds are en-caged in a golden cage looking back at each other. Many stories have a happy ending when the two lovers marry each other. In real life, however, stories begin right from that moment. Which one will be the end of this sweet beginning? The nest or the cage?"

Farah Ossouli