Asad Faulwell American, b. 1982
Anahita’s Paradise, 2024
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas
101.6 x 76.2 cm
40 x 30 in
40 x 30 in
Courtesy of the Artist and Lawrie Shabibi
Further images
Title refers to the Zoroastrian goddess Anahita and the word Paradise which derives from the old Persian word for a garden. In this painting there are two priestess figures seated...
Title refers to the Zoroastrian goddess Anahita and the word Paradise which derives from the old Persian word for a garden.
In this painting there are two priestess figures seated at the bottom next a pool of water. One is tending to a lion “symbol of kingship/power” and holding up a bust of Darius I. The other cuts her hair short with a blade. Back left are a king and queen figure. The king holding a peacock shaped golden staff and the queen holding the “holy fire”. The standing figure on the right is the goddess Anahita holding the circle of the Faravahar in one hand and purifying the water with the pitcher in her other hand. And additional small detail in this painting, is the butterfly sitting on the lions tail. It’s based on photos of a native Iranian butterfly species.
In this painting there are two priestess figures seated at the bottom next a pool of water. One is tending to a lion “symbol of kingship/power” and holding up a bust of Darius I. The other cuts her hair short with a blade. Back left are a king and queen figure. The king holding a peacock shaped golden staff and the queen holding the “holy fire”. The standing figure on the right is the goddess Anahita holding the circle of the Faravahar in one hand and purifying the water with the pitcher in her other hand. And additional small detail in this painting, is the butterfly sitting on the lions tail. It’s based on photos of a native Iranian butterfly species.