Hailed as the “father of modern Iranian sculpture,” Tanavoli explores Persian folk traditions and religious themes in his work. During the early 1960s, he made works by first sculpting drains, faucets, padlocks, lattices, and tubelike sections in wax or clay, then casting them in bronze. That Tanavoli and the other artists in his creative circle used these motifs earned them the name Saqqakhaneh—a Persian term referring to commemorative public fountains that are often densely decorated and surrounded by metal grills.
Gallery label from 2024
Spot the shapes
This sculpture is made up of many different shapes. Point out the ones that stand out to you!
The artist named this sculpture The Prophet. A prophet is someone who shares a special spiritual message. If this sculpture could talk, what do you think it might say? Which part of the sculpture would do the talking?
Kids label from 2024
Working in Tehran and in Minneapolis in the early 1960s, Tanavoli forged a new sculptural idiom. Drains, faucets, padlocks, latticework, and tube-like sections first sculpted in wax or clay, then cast in bronze, comprise his sculpture from this period. This additive use of commonplace motifs or popular imagery earned his artistic circle the name Saqqakhaneh—a Persian term referring to commemorative public water fountains often densely decorated and surrounded by metal grills.
Gallery label from 2017
