Lot 104: Razm

Rokni Haerizadeh (Iranian, b. 1978) Razm signed and dated in Farsi, signed and dated 'Rokni 2006' (lower right) acrylic on canvas 78¾ x 78¾in. (200 x 200cm.) Painted in 2006

200 x 200cm.

London, Saatchi Gallery, Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East, 2009 (illustrated in colour, p. 48).

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner.

The painting's title Razm is the Farsi word for fighting, that is considered in epic poetry, along with love, to be one of the two great heroic activities. Haerizadeh often takes inspiration from Persia's rich literature - such as Ferdowsi's Book of Kings or Rumi's poetry and prose works. It uses its grand themes as allegories for contemporary Iranian social issues. In Iranian customs, rather than having a war, one soldier from each side was selected to partake in a duel to the death as a means to settle disagreements. Haerizadeh paints this scene with his signature energetic and expressionist brushstrokes and renders an atmosphere of a comic-like cacophonic scenery.