Zabihullah Mohammadi’s pen drawings went on show at Iranian Artists Forum on August 31. The works are centered on folk tales, Qur’anic stories and ancient Persian epic fables, particularly tales from the Shahnameh (book of kings) by Persian poet Ferdowsi (935-1020). Shahnameh is replete with heroic stories partially based on true events.
As Mohammadi’s works tell the history and culture of Iran, the exhibit is named “City of Iran”. In several verses of the Shanameh the word ‘city’ has been used instead of the word “country”.
Mohammadi, 78, is a self-taught artist who since his youth has drawn scenes from his favorite stories, particularly from Shahanameh, when he dropped out of school and began performing naqqali at gatherings in his village in the county of Aligudarz in Lorestan Province.
Storytelling tradition in Iran known as naqqali is the narrating of important stories from local fables, myths and epics in important books from ancient times. It is usually undertaken before a big piece of cloth or canvas hung on walls of tea or coffee houses, painted on which are the events of the story being narrated by a reciter known as the naqqal. Mohammadi’s works will be on view through September 14. The IAF is located at Artists Park, N. Mousavi Street, Taleqani Street.
