Jazeh Tabatabai (Iran, 1931-2008) Saz-o-Avaz oil on canvas, framed signed in Farsi and English 94 x 168cm (37 x 66 1/8in). Footnotes: Provenance: Property from a private collection, Dubai 'I do not paint the mythological dreams of a thousand and one nights', I paint the hopes and dreams of real people. Under the cunning disguise of images of a thousand and one nights, I paint the thousand and one pains, aches, joys, desires and sorrows of people. For me, the history of the world resembles a ring; you can not distinguish the beginning from the end, and in the same manner, you can not separate modernity from tradition. I would not be able to work without this connection to history My colours are bright and childish. I do not present technically admirable or glorious paintings for pure decoration with no meaningful message in them. I believe an artistic creation is one in which the artist portrays a moment of truth with certain expressive forms, lines and colours' - Jazeh Tabatabai Jazeh Tabatabai, the Iranian avant-garde painter, poet and sculptor, was one of the pioneers of modern art in Iran. Jazeh's first medium of self-expression was the written word: he published his first book at the age of twelve. Believing that different ideas demand different media, Jazeh explained, 'For some I need colour, for some I need three-dimensional sculpture, for some movement, and for some words. I have sought rather to enlarge my capacity for expression through mastering a wide-range of techniques.' In 1951 Tabatabai earned a diploma from the School of Arts and displayed his art, which was then miniatures at his first art exhibition. Four years later he achieved the position of top student in the Film Direction and Principles of Theatre program at the Iranian College of Literature and produced the play 'Sailor's Shirt'. In 1961, he completed his painting courses at the College of Fine Arts and established the Modern Iran Art Gallery, the first art gallery in Iran This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * * VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com