Iranian calligrapher and typographer Ali Minaei-Fard has developed a portrait of the martyr leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The artist used the leader's poetry to demonstrate both the sorrow of his loss and the greatness of his personality through the fusion of visual art and calligraphy.
Creation of the Artwork
Minaei-Fard is one of the artists creating visual works dedicated to the martyr leader in Vali Asr Square in Tehran. He incorporated the Martyr Leader's verses into his work, merging graphic design and calligraphy to create his likeness. According to Mehr, this two-and-a-half-meter piece was executed on canvas using a combination of Nastaliq and traditional fonts.
Inspiration and Support
Explaining the source of inspiration, the artist noted that his main driving force was the deceased Leader himself. Previously, during the martyrdom of Hajj Qasem Soleimani and the passing of President Raisi, he created similar works. The Leader saw these pieces and graciously acknowledged them. During one meeting, he asked the artist to explain his works and closely observed the details while the artist spoke about them. He commented that the content, execution, and choice of texts were excellent. It was this attention that prompted him to take this direction more seriously.
Characteristics of the New Portrait
Commenting on the features of the latest work, Minaei-Fard stated that the current piece is based on the poems of their Martyr Leader published over different years. To form the image of his face, he applied Nastaliq and Shekasteh fonts. Essentially, the viewer simultaneously encounters calligraphy and a portrait.
Public Reaction to the Art
Regarding the public response to this style of art, he observed that such works are rare. People have seen calligraphy and they have seen painting, but the fusion of these two art forms and the transformation of calligraphic lines into a human face is something fresh and fascinating to them. In an era where most works lean towards artificial intelligence and computer graphics, the presence of a completely handmade piece evokes special affection from the public.
