VAV + HWE

Paintings with concentric compositions appear in Zenderoudi's work as early as 1963, but it was in the early 1970s that he fully explored this theme. In 1972 he painted a series of large paintings all in a square format and approximately two metres by two metres. In this series the concentric rings of letters create the illusion of perspective and a feeling of limitless space. Individual Persian letters are repeated countless times, predominantly in black and white, or variations of dark colours. The present work VAV+HWE is exceptional in its use of modulated tones of red, and the balance of black, white and red coloured masses are carefully controlled to produce an extraordinary vibrant effect.

A black and white composition from the same series entitled MIUZ+SFKE, also painted in 1972 was acquired by the National Centre of Contemporary Art, Paris.

Another work from this series is published in Ruyin Pakbaz and Yaghoub Emdadian (eds.), Pioneers of Iranian Modern Art: Charles-Hossein Zenderoudi, Tehran, 2001, p.81.