Lot 49: Golnaz Fathi (Iranian, b. 1972)

Golnaz Fathi (Iranian, b. 1972)
Untitled
signed 'G. Fathi'(lower right), dated and located '2003 Paris' (lower left)
oil and acrylic on canvas
57¾ x 52¾in. (147 x 134cm.)
Painted in 2003

Golnaz Fathi is a trained calligrapher, and her works combine this together with elements of graphic design, painting and autobiography. Fathi has created an imaginary language deeply rooted in Persian tradition, while she insists on not following the rules of traditional calligraphy. The words first strike the viewer as readable, but on closer inspection are indecipherable, expressing through abstract means what words cannot.