"Radioactive Rostam" (2010) by acclaimed Iranian artist Fereydoun Ave (Iran, b. 1945) is a stunning inkjet print of canvas from his acclaimed series that all reference the pre-Islamic hero Rostam, a character from the epic Shahnameh-Book of Kings by Persian poet Ferdosi. Ave uses images of a contemporary wrestler, a well-known cultural figure, to represent Rostam, paying homage to Persian tradition through a contemporary vehicle. The works in this series also reveal Ave’s personal fondness and admiration for past traditions. He surrounds the figure with lavish flowers, and by duplicating the figure’s arms, equates him with Hindu gods, an additional nod to symbols and cultural tradition. This photograph is edition 2 of 5, measures 39.37 x 25.60 inches and is in excellent condition.

Ave was born in Tehran in 1945 and completed his formal education in England. He received a BA in theater from Arizona State University in 1969 and studied film at New York University until 1970. Returning to his native country prior to the Iranian Revolution, he worked as a stage and graphic designer at the Iran American Society in Tehran and was Resident designer for the National Theatre in Tehran, experiences that are reflected in his aesthetically vibrant and well-balanced works. Ave currently lives in Paris and Tehran. His works are included in various prestigious collections worldwide, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, Lloyds Bank, Geneva, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and the British Museum, London.