ArtDayME:  Ali Shirazi's "Praising Hakim Omar Khayyam" was up for auction at the 20th Tehran Auction in July. After a fascinating competition among art buyers and collectors, the piece, created in 2016 as an acrylic on canvas with dimensions of 180 x 180 cm, sold for $31,167.

To introduce that item of art, Tehran Auction provided the following text in the catalog:

Through the visual refinement of Persian characters, Shirazi aims to combine modern and classical calligraphy in this collection of his works. His main accomplishments include the use of solid Iranian Nastaliq forms and the juxtaposition of black and red to create a unique and deconstructive setting.

Meanwhile, Shirazi's appreciation for the treasured history of Persian calligraphy, as well as his attention on retaining the rhythm and beat of calligraphy, mix with modernist aesthetics, giving his paintings an eye-catching and infinite character.

The texture formed by the artist's painting action on the body of Persian letters with quick and thick strokes in "Praising Hakim Omar Khayyam" aids in determining the work's depth.

Shirazi attempts to offer a fresh, modern take on the Iranian-style Siyah mashq practice here. In such a way, he attempts to create a new narrative of composition through the use of brilliant colors and form, while also revisiting the fundamental principles of classical calligraphy.

Shirazi's work is based on elements such as elegance, contrast, and emotion, which, when combined with rhythm, create a dynamic arrangement of pattern and color, resulting in a meditative totality and meaningful engagement with a formalistic attitude.

The artist in "Praising Hakim Omar Khayyam" employs multiple layers of letter and word arrangement, both horizontally and vertically, with rich colors and shadows. However, the lengthy black lines in the backdrop, accompanied by a very huge dong, cause the audience's attention to move continuously over the canvas.

Here, Shirazi creates an orderly environment for writing in an unreadable situation by utilizing the upward movement and intrinsic nature of Iranian Nastaliq geometry, as well as its visual impact on the viewer.

The correct calculation of word form capacity and form extraction, as well as the energetic linkages of lines in the work, demonstrate the artist's commitment to Iranian calligraphy traditions, particularly the practice of Siyah mashq. However, his work is manifested through painting.

Throughout history, Iranian poets and sages have placed a high emphasis on letters and words.

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In this sense, the work's title "Praising Hakim Omar Khayyam" enhances its appearance, as does the effective and interesting feature of the words and letters interlaced in the heart, allowing the observer to see the magic of words in the image's text.

Shirazi's most recent work will be presented on Friday, November 1 at Argoon Art in Tehran.

Shirazi's calligrams are housed in priceless collections throughout the Middle East and Asia, such as the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia, Mohammad Al Murr collection in the UAE, Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation in Dubai, Hassan bin Mohamed Al Thani collection in Qatar, Sharjah Art Museum, National Museum of Qatar, the Anwar Gargash collection in Dubai, the Juma AI-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage in Dubai , the treasure of the Pasargad Bank Museum, Tehran's Quran Museum and Imam Ali Religious Arts Museum.