Untitled

"I always thought to myself why we should not paint a portrait in an abstract form. An abstract portrait gives the artist liberty to look beyond the appearance into a subject in a symbolic way. There are many unspoken secrets within a portrait that once revealed, present a very different world. It is a world much more interesting than the world of appearance. Every artist has his unique way of depicting his subjects if he tries to detach himself from the appearance." (Koorosh Shishegaran)

Noted for his dynamic compositions of vivid colours and sinuous curved abstracted forms, Koorosh Shishegaran provides impressions of spontaneity within a stylistically minimalist composition. The present lot depicted in acid yellow, white and black distinct lines, is an outstanding early example of Shishegaran's 'portraiture', that feature strongly caricatural elements of the subject, that in reality are meticulously crafted through the manipulation of the line. While the dynamic swirling curves resonate with Islamic calligraphy, the power of Shishegaran’s linear manifestations also derive from more complex meanings, also recalling the intricacies of Persian architecture. Eschewing recognizable imagery in favour of bold, rhythmic lines which travel in all directions across the work, they move to create unusual silhouettes adhering to a figurative representation.

Prompting the viewer to seek clarity and realities within the visual language of the artist, Shishegaran urges us decipher the timelessness and embrace the monumentality in scale of his shapes. Simple in primary colour palettes, the work is strikingly simple yet complex, combining thick ribbon figures in across a vibrant monochrome background.