Nazgol Ansarinia

Green Art Gallery, Dubai
Sale: Sotheby's, London, At The Crossroads 2: Contemporary Art from Istanbul to Kabul Selling Exhibition, 27 March - 1 April 2014, lot 42
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 2014

London, Green Cardamom, Interior Renovations, Tehran, 2010, 2010
Dubai, Green Art Gallery, Statue of Limitation, 2013

Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is natural wear to the rug due to its age and as part of the artist's intention. Colour: The catalogue illustration is accurate, however the overall tonality is darker and tends towards a deeper maroon hue in the original work.
"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."

Mendings, the title of this series describes its creation process. Ansarinia’s method begins by cutting her chosen object in half; equal portions are then removed and the reduced segments are reunited to form a whole. The artist chooses familiar subjects commonly found in Persian interiors. After each adjustment Ansarinia unveils a newly born object, gifting it with its own entity and identity. Whilst the mended household items maintain their symmetry and functionality, their new forms and raw seams are an unsightly inconvenience. This deliberate interruption diminishes the object whilst also deconstructing its preconceived perceptions; redefining the object to reveal something hidden, forgotten or even new.

In the present work, Ansarinia explores and manipulates a Persian carpet, sewing the two pieces to form a disjointed whole form. This altered carpet is represents a changed object. Retaining a memory of displacement in its very physicality; it seems to encompass a sentiment of loss. Ansarinia investigates the public constraints and the domestic life faced in Iran by visually manipulating the archetypal Persian carpet, thereby suggesting a parallel tension between the private and public realms. Her work is an interpretation of our lives, our environment and our perception of ordinary items and rituals which are often taken for granted. Ansarinia's works are increasingly included in prestigious museum exhibitions including the Reitberg in Zurich, the Brunei Gallery at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit.