Koorosh Shishegaran (Iranian, b. 1945)

Koorosh Shishegaran, one of Iran's most acclaimed painters, uses lines and twists in playful and colourful compositions. The fluid movements of the lines are depicted on a plain background, free of any expressionist impulse and Shishegaran distinguishes himself from most of his contemporary calligraphy painters. The plain colours and the sharp contours are reminiscent of his fascination by graphic arts, yet through his work, he creates visual energy and invokes the inquisitive mind of the viewer.

Between abstraction and representation, the present work moves away from traditional Persian calligraphy and is indicative of form and abstraction, rather than any human narratives. Koorosh Shishegaran has created his own painterly style and while he is inspired by classical painting and Iranian modern art, his works are truly contemporary.