Untitled V, 2023

Marker drawing, 40”x30”

In “Untitled V,” I continue the visual language established in my previous work, employing the intricate swirls of fingerprints to create a canvas that speaks to identity and authority. The marker drawing, spanning 40”x30”, is a modern interpretation steeped in the rich soil of Iranian myth.

This piece draws from the legend of Zahhak—a tyrannical king whose shoulders sprouted serpents that fed on the brains of the youth. Here, the snakes are not mere appendages of a ruler; they become the central figures, cloaked in the pattern of fingerprints. The design serves as a paradoxical cloak of legitimacy, suggesting that the very symbol of individuality and authenticity is appropriated to mask the exploitation of power.

The serpentine figure, wrapped in a garment adorned with this pattern, stands as a metaphor for the insidious way authority can consume the lives it is meant to protect, under the guise of populism and the people’s advocacy. It is a cautionary tale, reminding us that the veneer of democracy can sometimes cloak the most undemocratic actions.

With “Untitled V,” I seek to evoke a dialogue about the cyclical nature of power and the ever-present danger of its corruption. The use of mythological imagery serves as a bridge between past and present, warning us that the serpents of tyranny can still rise, even when cloaked in the guise of guardianship.