Negarineh Islamic Art

Negarineh Islamic Art

Reflection of Conceptual and Visual Characteristics of Persian Miniature in the Works of Contemporary Iranian Painters

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 بلوار امامت، امامت۳۱، بعدازچهارراه اول، پلاک۵۳، واحد۶
2 Art Neyshabur university
Abstract
Contemporary Iranian painters have forged a distinct visual identity within the realm of visual arts by creatively synthesizing the visual traditions of Persian miniature with modern art movements. Examining this phenomenon requires a rigorous analysis of traditional structures within a contemporary context. This study aims to identify and categorize the conceptual and visual characteristics of Persian miniature in the works of these artists, seeking to answer which specific elements have been adopted and what structural transformations and metamorphoses they have undergone during the transition to contemporary painting. The necessity of this research stems from the fact that most previous studies have limited themselves to historical surveys or general descriptions, leaving a noticeable gap for analytical-comparative research that delves into the depth of structural changes. Employing a qualitative approach and a comparative-analytical method, the data for this research were gathered through library studies and original theoretical sources. In this regard, the works of five prominent artists—Farah Ossouli, Aydin Aghdashloo, Ardeshir Mojarad Takestani, Rezvan Sadeghzadeh, and Ali Akbar Sadeghi—were selected as case studies. Their works were analyzed based on criteria such as archetypal space (the world of symbols/Alam al-Mithal), color, form, and figuration. The findings indicate that the interaction of these artists with the miniature tradition transcends formal appropriation or technical imitation; rather, it represents a conceptual and structural metamorphosis of underlying elements. By consciously utilizing features such as timelessness, the absence of Western perspective, and delicate line-drawing (Ghalem-giri), the selected artists have succeeded in recreating modern concepts—including historical decay, identity critique, human suffering, and personal surrealism—within the framework of traditional visual language. While artists like Aghdashloo emphasize the destructive aspects and the decline of tradition, others such as Ossouli, Sadeghzadeh, and Sadeghi have achieved a contemporary expression by altering the function of figures and narratives. Ultimately, contemporary Iranian painting has reached a dynamic balance between indigenous heritage and modern expressive imperatives, where decorative elements function not as marginalia but as integral, meaning-making components of the primary text.
Keywords
Subjects


Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 18 July 2026

  • Receive Date 12 October 2025
  • Revise Date 07 July 2026
  • Accept Date 18 July 2026