Lot 37: Razm

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

An ancient Iranian way of settling disputes was to set two warrior from opposing armies against one another in mortal combat. The fight would be to the death and whoever emerged triumphant would confer their victory to their entire army, thus avoiding a destructive war. This practice was later ritualised and thuse emerged the Iranian tradition of wrestling between two pahlavans with music.