drawing
- Museum number
- 2019,6026.1
- Title
-
Object: Detainees in Green Hats
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Object: Valentines Day
- Description
-
Pen and ink drawing of detainees in green hats
- Production date
- 1997
- Dimensions
-
Height: 13 centimetres
-
Width: 20 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- “Detainees in Green Hats” was painted in 1997 during the time Ardeshir Mohasses was suffering from heart problems, which ultimately led to open-heart surgery that year. This painting is one of the most expressive pieces by Mohasses. Using his unique visual language, he exposes the reality of life and illustrates tyranny and injustice through his knowledge of Iran’s culture, history, and socio-political situation.
“Detainees in Green Hats” shows political prisoners in chains walking towards the viewer as directed by two government police officials. The prisoners are depicted as Naseri-era coutiers, aping the Qajar era style of figuration in thier dress (including traditional 19th century 'kolah' hats and European-inspired military jackets).
To make the chained prisoners more recognizable from afar, officials made them wear green hats, thus making the public humiliation even worse. The chains around prisoner's necks are tied together by locks in the form of bleeding hearts. Artist Nahid Hagigat says: "Are these hearts the hearts of the prisoners? I believe they are both the hearts of the prisoners and Mohasses' heart. He feels their pain and his heart bleeds for them."
“Detainees in Green Hats” is painted with pen, black and colored ink, and markers on Arches paper. Ardeshir Mohasses very rarely named his pieces and this painting is not an exception. The name “Detainees in Green Hats” comes from artist and previous owner of the work Nahid Hagigat's understanding of the painting.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 2019
- Acquisition notes
- Certificate of Authenticity from the artist's estate
- Department
- Middle East
- Registration number
- 2019,6026.1
