POME GREEN
signed and titled in Persian Reza Derakshani Pome Green on the reverse; dated in English 2015 on the reverse
oil on canvas
image: 152 x 183cm; 59 3/4 x 72in
unframed

Provenance:
Acquired from the artist
Private collection, Milan

A renowned polymath - painter, musician and performer - the acclaimed artist Reza Derakshani evokes his love of nature, poetry, popular culture and harmony in his work. Born in the Northern region of Iran, Derakshani is truly a nomad at heart who often finds inspiration in the surrounding birds, trees and mountains. The present work comes from his well-known Pomegranate series. Rather than focusing on the tree itself, Derakshani is fascinated by the beauty and symbolism of the fruit, as well as the allegorical meaning of its seed, which alludes to the Persian culture and tradition and is considered to be the fruit of heaven in Persian literature.

The delicately textured composition of the present work, rendered in hues of pink, green and reds, conjures up ancient symbols of fertility, prosperity and everlasting life. Derakshani deftly paints with a lightness of touch and rhythm, subtly arranging the fruits in an abstracted organic manner on the canvas. By hinting to the folkloric culture of his homeland and finding inspiration in poetry, Derakshani achieves an aesthetic harmony through this striking composition.