ssanzadeh, Haft Khan (detail), 2010 Mixed media on 728 ceramic tiles, 195 x 845 cm
Inspired by Iranian traditions of manhood that existed in a pre-revolutionized Iran, artist Khosrow Hassanzadeh combines Persian visual traditions with pop representations of the once-celebrated icon of the wrestler. Hassanzadeh finds inspiration in the Haft Khan, a story from the epic Persian poem Shahnameh (The Book of Kings), which tells of Rostam, an Iranian Hercules, who must go through seven quests, or labors, to save his sovereign from demons. As Persian folk wrestling became popularized in 19th-century Iran, the wrestler, or pahlavan, became the embodiment of Rostam for sharing similar heroic characteristics.
“Wrestlers used to be an integral part of our culture” explains the artist. They were the caretakers of society; they were powerful men, strong men who were society’s protectors and providers. They helped people in need—whether helping to organize wedding ceremonies and memorials, or organizing relief during earthquakes. This culture has now been lost.”
The first solo exhibition in New York City of paintings by Iranian artist Khosrow Hassanzadeh will be on view at Leila Heller Gallery’s Chelsea location at 568 West 25th Street from March 1 through 31, 2012.
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