All proceeds from the hammer price of this lot directly benefit Magic of Persia. Established in 2004, Magic of Persia is a UK-based non-profit charity, which nurtures and develops Iranian cultural practitioners of the arts. Magic of Persia has established initiatives promoting modern, contemporary and classical Persian art, music and media in partnership with world-class institutions, including The British Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, London Film School, Royal College of Art, Saatchi Collection, Frieze Art Fair and Art Dubai amongst many others.
"Untitled (from The Massive Calm series)" (2008) is a stunning large scale figurative oil painting by exciting Contemporary female artist Samira Eskandarfar, (Iran, B. 1980) who in 2011 and 2012 arrived on the international art scene with critical acclaim. Depicting a close-up portrait of a beautiful woman whose large, luminous eyes gaze peacefully outwards, she holds up a playing card of the Queen of Hearts in one hand. With her other hand, she makes a strange gesture placing two fingers to her nose and one finger under her eye, as if this is a specific non-verbal message to be understood by the viewer. This painting measures 59 x 59 inches (150 cm x 150 cm) and is in excellent condition.
Samira Eskandarfar received her M.A. from Art University in Iran in 2006, and a B.A. from Imam Khomeini International University in Iran in 2001. Notable 2012 international solo and group exhibitions include: "[UN]PAIRED", Kulter, Amsterdam, Netherlands; "Gender and Exposure in Contemporary Iranian Photography", Gallery 44, Toronto; "Ciphers: Tension with Tradition in Contemporary Iranian Photography", SAW Gallery, Ottawa, Canada (both curated by Andrea Fitzpatrick) and "Mickey Mask", Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, Iran. Select 2011 exhibitions include: "The 1st Tehran Annual Digital Art Exhibition", Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, Iran and "Body Language In The Eyes Of Iranian Artists", FA Gallery, Kuwait (Curated by Simin Dehghani) and the seminal 2010 group exhibition: "Tehran to London: New Painting from Iran", Jill George Gallery, London, UK.
