پرویز تناولی | Parviz Tanavoli (Spouse: Mani Tanavoli; Children: Tandis, Cyrus, and Afsaneh) is a world-renowned sculptor, painter, and scholar, widely regarded as the “Father of Modern Iranian Sculpture.” He was a leading figure in the Saqqa-khaneh movement of the 1960s, which sought to create a distinct Iranian modernism by blending traditional Shia folk motifs and calligraphy with Western avant-garde art.
After studying at the Tehran School of Fine Arts, Tanavoli moved to Italy to study at the Brera Academy in Milan under the mentorship of legendary sculptor Marino Marini. Upon his return to Iran, he was instrumental in revolutionizing the country’s art scene. He established the Department of Sculpture at the University of Tehran and served as its chair for 18 years, mentoring generations of Iranian artists.
Tanavoli is most famous for his “Heech” (Nothingness) series. Starting in the mid-1960s, he sculpted the Farsi word Heech ($هیچ$) in three-dimensional forms, transforming the calligraphic symbol into a lyrical, anthropomorphic figure. To Tanavoli, Heech is not a representation of nihilism, but rather a mystical concept of creativity and the vastness of the void, influenced by the poetry of Rumi and Omar Khayyam. These sculptures have been cast in bronze, fiberglass, and neon, becoming iconic symbols of modern Middle Eastern art.
Beyond his sculptures, Tanavoli is an obsessed collector and world authority on Iranian tribal artifacts. His work often incorporates motifs of locks, keys, and lattices (inspired by traditional shrines or saqqa-khanehs). His pieces are held in the permanent collections of the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Tate Modern. In 2008, his bronze sculpture The Wall (Oh Persepolis) set a world record for the highest price ever paid for a work by a living Middle Eastern artist at auction.
Active in others filds : Scholarship (Leading expert on Persian rugs and textiles), Jewelry Design, Printmaking, Art Education.
