Nasrollah Afjei

Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

Condition: This work is in good condition. There are very minor rubbing marks on top and bottom right corner. There is a very light scratch on centre right. There are traces of artist's preliminary marks underneath.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

inscription:

A couplet by the Persian poet Hafiz

Much like the celebrated naturalistic artist Sohrab Sepehri, Nasrollah Afjei sought inspiration from the world around him. As a child he would go to the desert and paint the trees and the rolling landscapes, he would visit the sea and try to capture the form of the waves; but unlike Sepehri he chose to express the world around through calligraphy. The essential power of the earth and sea, the curve of the landscape and the freedom of the wind are all captured in his dynamic and perspective driven works that form horizons and mountains with the word.

Afjei believes calligraphy is a universal language anyone can enjoy, much like the colour field artists of the 60s and 70s who stripped back landscapes into fields of colour, and created minimalist works to appeal to primal emotion rather than drawing on recognition and association, Afjei utilises the word. Like an engineer, the angles in his script are precisely thought out and he is constantly pushing his own boundaries through trial and experimentation.