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Lot Essay
An acclaimed painter, a renowned musician and an active performance artist, Reza Derakshani evokes his love of nature, poetry, popular culture and harmony through his works. Born in the Northern region of Iran, Derakshani is truly a nomad at heart who often finds inspiration in the surrounding birds, trees and mountains. The present work Anare dooneh dooneh (in English, Pomegranate seed by seed) is one of the most vibrant and finest examples from the well-known Pomegranate series of the artist. Rather than focusing on the tree itself, Derakshani is fascinated by the beauty and the symbolism of the fruit as well as the allegorical meaning of its seed which alludes to the Persian culture and traditions.
The delicately textured red and gold composition is reminiscent of the preciousness of the fruit as the pomegranate is bursting with seeds and is an ancient symbol of fertility, prosperity, everlasting life, considered to be the fruit of heaven in Persian literature. Derakshani paints with light and rhythm, randomly yet subtly arranging the seeds onto the canvas. By hinting to the folkloric culture of his homeland and finding inspiration in poetry, Derakshani achieves aesthetic synergy through a melodious composition.
Moving away from the purely figurative, the artist creates a striking composition rooted in his cultural heritage, which lies between tradition and modernity to become truly universal. With Anaré dooneh dooneh, Reza Derakshani fearlessly explores style and musicality on the canvas, merging tradition with a contemporary spirit through an elegant, striking and enchanting composition.
The delicately textured red and gold composition is reminiscent of the preciousness of the fruit as the pomegranate is bursting with seeds and is an ancient symbol of fertility, prosperity, everlasting life, considered to be the fruit of heaven in Persian literature. Derakshani paints with light and rhythm, randomly yet subtly arranging the seeds onto the canvas. By hinting to the folkloric culture of his homeland and finding inspiration in poetry, Derakshani achieves aesthetic synergy through a melodious composition.
Moving away from the purely figurative, the artist creates a striking composition rooted in his cultural heritage, which lies between tradition and modernity to become truly universal. With Anaré dooneh dooneh, Reza Derakshani fearlessly explores style and musicality on the canvas, merging tradition with a contemporary spirit through an elegant, striking and enchanting composition.