Parviz
Tanavoli
Parviz Tanavoli, the foremost Iranian sculptor, has revolutionised Post-War Art in the Middle East through his iconic Heech series and exploration of Persian cultural symbols. If you're looking for Parviz Tanavoli original prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network's most in-demand works.
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Biography
Tanavoli's artistic journey began in Tehran, where he was born in 1937. His early exposure to traditional Persian art forms and craftsmanship would shape visual language. After graduating from the Brera Academy of Milan in 1959, Tanavoli returned to Iran, where he became a key figure in the Saqqakhaneh School of Art, a neo-traditionalist movement that sought to blend Persian folk art with Modernist principles.
The artist's work is characterised by a thorough engagement with Persian culture, history, and mythology. Tanavoli's sculptures, often crafted in bronze, incorporate elements such as ancient scripts, talismanic symbols, and architectural motifs. His most famous series, Heech (meaning 'nothing' in Persian), began in the 1960s and has become a defining feature of his oeuvre.
Tanavoli's influence extends beyond his visual art. As an educator, he has shaped generations of Iranian artists, serving as the head of the sculpture department at the University of Tehran. His role as a collector and scholar of Persian folk art has also contributed significantly to the preservation and understanding of Iran's cultural heritage.
Tanavoli's artistic career gained international recognition in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1962, Tanavoli created The Prophet, a seminal work that showcased his innovative approach to sculpture. This work, now part of the Museum of Modern Art's collection in New York, reflects Tanavoli's transformation of everyday objects, such as padlocks, drains, and faucets, into profound artistic statements. By casting these elements in bronze, Tanavoli draws on Persian folk traditions and religious symbolism, a hallmark of the Saqqakhaneh movement, which reimagined these objects as part of an intricate cultural and spiritual narrative.
The artist's Heech series, which he began in the early 1960s, has become his most recognisable work. These sculptures, which depict the Persian word for 'nothing' in three-dimensional form, explore themes of existence, void, and the nature of meaning. The series has evolved over decades, with Tanavoli creating variations in different materials and scales.
In addition to his sculptural work, Tanavoli is an accomplished painter and printmaker. His printmaking reflects the same thematic concerns that dominate his sculptural practice, particularly in his exploration of Persian cultural symbols and the notion of ‘nothingness.’ His 2012 screenprint Heech on Heech, part of his iconic Heech series, showcases his ability to translate three-dimensional ideas into two-dimensional forms. The print features a curving, abstracted figure in vibrant, interlocking colours, reminiscent of the three-dimensional Heech sculptures.
Tanavoli's work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions globally, including the Tate Modern in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His pieces have achieved record-breaking prices at auction, cementing his status as one of Iran's most valuable artists in the international market.