Lot 310: NASROLLAH AFJEI

SIAH MASHQ (BLACK HOMEWORK)
signed

200 by 200cm.; 78 3/4 by 78 3/4 in.

ink on canvas

Executed in 2007.

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

Afjei was originally influenced by the Naqqashi-khatt movement (calligraphic painting), including artists such as Charles Hossein Zenderoudi and Faramarz Pilaram, and has now been creating calligraphic paintings for 30 years.

The focus in his work is solely on the calligraphy and the tradition of the art, though not through the construction of the particular traditions of the original literary or religious texts. By basing each work on a particular shape of a letter, Afjei could combine a variety of structural elements in the overall composition altogether creating something new but still recognisable.

This specific painting is based on a calligraphic exercise using the nastaliq style. Siah Mashq was originally used to practice on a single sheet of paper, and the main purpose of this would be to preserve the use of paper. It is noticeable however that the harmonic elegant movements of the dancing curves created beautiful repetitions that could be seen as independent calligraphic artworks in themselves.

The subject matter of the piece is clearly very important to Afjei as the legibility of the calligraphy continues to the corners of the canvas to the smallest handwriting, whereas the intensity of colour takes a back seat to the content.