Lion on Kilim , 2013

In Lion on Kilim, Parviz Tanavoli revisits one of the most enduring symbols in Persian visual culture: the lion. Rooted in ancient mythology, tribal art, and folklore, the lion has long represented strength, guardianship, and sovereignty in Iranian tradition. Tanavoli’s interpretation, however, strips the symbol of grandeur and reimagines it through a distinctly modern, pared-down visual language.

The lion’s form is deliberately stylized and geometric, recalling the abstracted animals found in nomadic kilims and tribal textiles. Rendered with a childlike clarity and restrained palette, the figure appears both monumental and humble, standing firmly atop the woven surface beneath it. The kilim is not merely a background but an integral part of the composition—linking the image directly to Iran’s rich tradition of handwoven art and everyday material culture.

Tanavoli’s lifelong engagement with Persian folk art is evident in the work’s simplicity and symbolic economy. By referencing kilim motifs and reducing the lion to essential shapes, he bridges the worlds of sculpture, textile, and painting. The result is a work that feels timeless, evoking ancient memory while remaining unmistakably contemporary.

Created in 2013, Lion on Kilim reflects Tanavoli’s mature period, during which his focus increasingly turned toward cultural archetypes and visual storytelling. The piece speaks quietly yet powerfully about identity, continuity, and the enduring presence of tradition within modern Iranian art.