Iranian marquetry artist Hamed Asgarian donated his conceptual artwork, “Blood of God,” to the museum of the Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine. He presented the piece during his two-day exhibition, “Marquetry … A Different Kind,” at the Rayzan Center. The donation permanently adds a modern interpretation of the tragic Ashura narrative to an important religious collection.
The exhibition took place on September 28 and 29 under the curatorship of Sara Golestani and the direction of Mona Fahmideh. Ansarian, director general of cultural affairs, and Mehdi Barari, head of the museum, formally received the artwork during the ceremony. They praised the contribution as a valuable addition to the institutional visual record of contemporary religious art.
Asgarian created the 74-by-53-centimeter piece in August 2022 using natural, untreated dried wood. The wooden structure weighs 4.75 kilograms and intentionally avoids artificial ornamentation to preserve the wood’s authentic natural textures. Furthermore, the visual composition contrasts light and dark elements with imagery of earth and sky to represent Karbala.
The artwork commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, who died fighting tyranny at Karbala in 680 CE. Two luminous circles evoke the symbolic scene in which soldiers raised his head on a spear, resembling two suns. Consequently, millions of people worldwide continue to revere Imam Hussein as a universal symbol of courage and justice.
Asgarian combines his background in mechanical engineering and operations research with a distinctive style called “Chiltechini.” Therefore, geometry serves as a structural principle rather than merely a decorative feature in his intricate designs. Repeated hexagonal forms combine with raw wooden pieces to balance geometric precision with organic textures.
Asgarian has previously exhibited his distinctive works at international venues in the Netherlands, Turkey, Costa Rica, Oman, and Spain. Additionally, his artwork “Family” received recognition in Costa Rica, while another of his works is housed in Iran’s National Library. This latest donation elevates marquetry beyond traditional handicrafts and establishes a lasting legacy for contemporary Iranian fine art.