Ahmad Nadalian’s works in the book Art in Nature by Barbara Stieff

Earth, Sea, Sun, And Sky     Art in Nature

Barbara Stieff

Perstel   Munich  .  London .  New York  2011

www.prestel.com

ISBN 978-3-7913-7048-4

   

Dear Mr. Nadalian, Ahmad,

I´m very pleased an honored, that you like my book and will promote it on your website.

While researching for the book, I got to know the works of a lot of different Land Art and Nature Art artists. Reading about your works on your website, made a strong impression on me. I read and felt that you do not “make” art, but live art. It seems that you are engaged with nature as an artist, healer, “shaman”, teacher,…

We all need to be reminded constantly, that we are a part of nature, we cannot be separated. And all the harm we do to nature, we cause to ourselves aswell.

While I worked on that book, my bonding with nature grew stronger. By beholding it through the eyes of various artist my connection became deeper and richer.

What can I say but: thank you for the work you do.

With kind regards,

Barbara Stieff

Ahmad Nadalian Fish Stones in Water

For the Persian artist Ahmad Nadalian, fish are symbols of human soul. They are thirsty for life.  Like a shaman in earlier times or a good pastor today, Nadlain wants to help people. He engraves the fish onto stones and then returns them to nature once again, where they can become vigorous and swim like fish in water.

Pleasure of New life

As a ritual, I have dropped my carved stones into rivers, canals, reservoirs and seas.  Playing host for the past decade, these bodies of water the world over now hold a surplus of imaginary fish and other creatures.  The purpose of this tradition results in the ultimate goal of dedicating my fish to all humanity.  In documenting the physical process of releasing the fish into water, I came upon a new horizon:  how water accepts and effects the art.  The shapes created by the splash of a stone breaking the water’s surface are amazing, thus, it may be considered a “water scuplture”.

I have offered my carved stones with imaginary fish to Haraz rivers.

Ahmad Nadalian ,  Hidden Treasure

As part of his art, Ahmad Nadalian buries his creations all around the world in holes in the ground.  People who observe him doing it may secretly want to retrieve the “treasure,” hoping to find gold and jewels.  But at the bottom of each hole there is a simple stone with a motif carved into it.  These stones are the treasure, though people often do not realize it. For the carved stones represent the artist’s ideas and good wishes for the whole earth.

Hidden Treasures: An Art Exhibition for next Millenniums      

During my frequent travels to different parts of the world, I have buryed many of my carved stones in different land.   In addition, many artists and individuals,  from different nationality carried out and buried my carvings in the different place of the earth.  These mostly show images of fish and human hand and foot traces and animals.   I documented some of these and presented here.

Mythological Treasures or Contemporary Art

The story of “Hidden Treasures” began when the people in Polour started to excavate the place where I carved several images and texts on the local rocks.  They hoped to find treasures there.  According to a tradition in the north of Iran, the images of fish or a snake on the rocks can be a sign of treasure. I never ignored that my works are perhaps an indication of treasure when I heard this story.

 

About the book:

Earth, Sea, Sun, And Sky     Art in Nature

Barbara Stieff

Perstel   Munich  .  London .  New York

This engaging book introduces young readers to the enormous variety of art that exists within the natural environment.

Art can be a garden; a spiral of broken pebbles or dandelions; a wheat field in a former garbage dump. It can be made of wood carved with a chainsaw or a drawing using dust and earth. It can be transitory—painted on sand only to be erased by waves; or it can be built to last, like sculpture gardens by renowned artists.  Filled with beautiful images, this book will help children appreciate the different ways that artists employ nature in their work. It examines an array of examples, including sculpture gardens, mazes, land art, and nature-related works in museums while exploring the works of international artists, including Niki de Saint Phalle, Daniel Spoerri, Antonio Gaudi, Christo, the Ant Farm, Nancy Holt, Joseph Beuys, Agnes Denes, and Andy Goldsworthy.  The book provides readers with a wealth of ideas for creating their own paintings, drawings, sculptures, and experiments. Children will experience hours of inspiration as they discover the artistic possibilities that exist in the natural world.

Barbara Stieff is an author and stage director who worked for many years at the ZOOM children’s museum in Vienna. In 2007 her successful book Hundertwasser for Children and in 2008 her The Blue Rider for Children were published by Prestel Verlag.

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