“Untitled (Muqarnas)” by Monir Farmanfarmaian: December Collection Highlight
Monir Farmanfarmaian: A Mirror Garden is the first posthumous exhibition at an American museum for Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922–2019), one of Iran’s most celebrated and revered visual artists, known internationally for her geometric mirror sculptures that combine the mathematical order and beauty of ancient Persian architectural motifs with the forms and patterns of hard-edged, postwar abstraction. Objects on view include a selection of sculptures, drawings, textiles, and collages spanning four decades, from 1974 to 2019.
At ninety years old, Monir continued to experiment with complex new forms, such as the honeycomb shape of Untitled (Muqarnas) (2012), named for the ornamental vaulting found in the domed ceilings, niches, and corridors of Islamic architecture. A large work like Muqarnas would have been first produced by the artist as a maquette before being fabricated by master craftspeople under the artist’s close supervision.
Watch curatorial research associate Caroline Giddis discuss Untitled (Muqarnas) (2012) in the film above. The piece is currently on view on the Second Level of the Anne Cox Chambers Wing. You can learn more about the visual splendor of Monir Farmanfarmaian’s artworks in the exhibition A Mirror Garden, on view until April 9, 2023!
