Christie’s roundel
Lot 133 A

Golnaz Fathi (Iranian, b. 1972)

Unwritten

Closed27 October 2009

Price Realised

USD 22,500

More Information

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Golnaz Fathi (Iranian, b. 1972)
Unwritten
signed, dated and inscribed 'GOLNAZ FATHI 2005 TEHRAN' (along the lower edge of both panels)
acrylic on canvas; diptych
each panel: 59½ x 54 1/8in. (151 x 137.5 cm.); overall: 59½ x 108¼in, (151 x 275 cm.)
Painted in 2005 (2)

Specialist note

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.