12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The artists twisting Persian masterpieces with stunning color
Two contrasting works boldly set the stage for the Middle East Institute Art Gallery's 'Maximal Miniatures,' a showcase of contemporary Iranian artists inspired by Persian miniature painting.
Elham Pourkhani's 'Zahhak's Castle Is Calm' exemplifies many characteristics of the centuries-old artistic tradition. At just about 23 by 27 inches, the intimate piece is striking in its brilliant colors and rich ornamental detail. Its subject is Zahhak, a mythical ruler in the Persian national epic — the Shahnameh, or 'Book of Kings' — whose evil, bloodthirsty reign lasted 1,000 years.
