Parviz Kalantari and Ali Shirazi at RIRA Gallery in Dubai Two Solo Shows by Iranian Prized Master Artists

Installation view / Courtesy of RIRA Gallery

Both Kalantari and Shirazi’s works are a reflection of traditional Islam, although very different in vision very similar in ideal. Both artists use tradition, custom, and culture to present their differing mediums and yet it is within this custom and tradition that both artist have found deep influence and common understanding, to draw a mutual connection to this longstanding Islamic culture and heritage. Kalantari’s paintings focus on the architectural history of the Islamic world while Shirazi illuminates the aesthetics of language through the beautification of traditional Islamic calligraphy, an art that dates back more than thousands of years.

For Parviz Kalantari desert dwelling appears to be a life of simplicity, made up of bold sweeping lines, filled with any number of arches and curves, on a foundation of the traditional construction material of clay and straw. It is with this technique that Kalantari allows his canvas to embrace tradition in the midst of modernity. His canvas despite appearing simplistic is a manifestation of tradition, with discreet decorative motifs, colors, and symbols contrasting traditional elements as key attributes in his work .Yet within its simplicity lies a deeper honesty, that of not only the artist but also the architect, never straying far from the natural symbiosis of this relationship.

Parviz Kalantari, 'Untitled', acrylic on canvas, 100x150 cm, 2011 / Courtesy of RIRA Gallery

Parviz Kalantari, 'Untitled', acrylic on plaster of clay and straw, 105x105 cm, 2012 / Courtesy of RIRA Gallery

Parviz Kalantari, 'Untitled', acrylic on plaster of clay and straw, 150x200 cm, 2012 / Courtesy of RIRA Gallery

Ali Shirazi’s ability to take something so simple as a word and transform it into something so exquisitely delicate and beautiful is what has allowed him to join the leading ranks of Iranian master calligraphers. His innate grasp of language is not only apparent in his voluptuous brush strokes, but moreover in his ability to draw depth and meaning from them. The addition of color to compliment the power of the written word has the ability to both distract the artist in its vibrancy as well as capture the viewer in its potent grasp. His true talent lies in his ability to modernize an art that is centuries older himself and yet at the same time maintain its traditional capacity, linking both the old and the new, without losing its traditional significance in the face of modernity.

Ali Shirazi, Swawing 'Scripts', acrylic on canvas, 150x150 cm, 2012 / Courtesy of RIRA Gallery

Ali Shirazi, 'Sapphires at Dusk', acrylic on canvas, 180x200 cm, 2012 / Courtesy of RIRA Gallery

Ali Shirazi, 'The Thaw of Ice', acrylic and oil on canvas, 150x200 cm, 2012 / Courtesy of RIRA Gallery

This exhibition runs until May 13, 2013, so don't miss your chance to see it.