Khosrow HASSANZADEH (1963-2023). Ya Ali Madadi... Lot 1277

Khosrow HASSANZADEH (1963-2023). Ya Ali Madadi - 2008. Acrylic on loose canvas. Signed lower left. 220 x 205 cm. Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist. Note: Ali is the first imam of the Shiite tradition. He is famous for being a strong and humble man, famous for helping the poor. He is the Imam of the Pahlavan and they revere his sword, the Khyber. In Iran, when people need help, they say "Ya Ali Madad". The calligraphy of the paintings dances and swirls like Sufi dervishes. The silkscreen comes from an old photo of Pahlavan holding hands, on either side of them are a court intellectual, a dervish, a general and a mullah. The Pahlavan represent many aspects of Iranian culture that, according to Khosrow Hassanzadeh, are lost today. In the Ya Ali Madad series, the artist wanted to remind people of their beauty, strength and honor.