After Ahmad Nadalian’s participation in the Venice Biennale, curators, art centers, and museums from many countries invited him to exhibit and create new works. During his numerous international travels, he realized River Art, Sand Prints, Body Paintings, Performance Art, and many other projects in different parts of the world. While most of Nadalian’s artworks have been created directly in natural environments, many of his pieces are also preserved in museums, cultural centers, and public spaces around the globe.
Selected International Works
2016 – Two engraved seals titled Blossoming Tree and Birds, in the Yato Collection, South Korea
2016 – Permanent installation The Shadow of Civilization at the Museum of Nature Art, Hungary
2012 – Permanent installation at Iko-in Temple, Japan, invited by the Japanese curator Kiyoshi Sitakima
2012 – Series Peace Tablets – No to Nuclearization at Kamakura Temple, Japan
2010 – Two cylinder seals installed as an arrangement in the reservoir of the Arko Art Center (Ministry of Culture, South Korea), Seoul
2007 – Permanent stone carving in Central Park, New York City, invited by curator Helen Varola
In 2007 Ahmad Nadalian carved a collection of in the Central Park of New York City ( USA ) Abigail Doan about one of the works writ: Ahmad’s carved fish is near the 102nd Street transverse. This is the connector between the east side and west side of the park road loop or drive. There is a small bridge on the transverse, and if one is facing west, one should turn right down the path to the right of this bridge. On the left side of the road is a small police kiosk. One should follow the path towards the stream and its rocky outcropping. The carved fish is on the west side of the stream. Please see the attached map with a “red dot” showing the approximate location of the site.
Map and directions courtesy Abigail Doan.
Walk to view Ahmad Nadalian’s fish carving in Central Park
Curator, Helen Varola
Ahmad Nadalian arrives at his chosen site in Central Park…
He spots a rock near a little stream…
He chisels a fish form into the rock…
Soon, a fish is carved…
Ahmad wets the rock to symbolically wed the fish to water…
and the fish now “swims.”
You are invited to view Ahmad Nadalian’s fish carving in Central Park, an environmental art happening that occurred Spring 2007. A group of fitness walkers will meet in Hudson Heights and walk along the Hudson to the fish site located in Central Park @ 102nd Street. The walk will take 2-3 hours and incorporate Nancy’s healthy workout routines.
When: Sunday, July 15
Where to Meet: Trivium at 187th Street @ Cabrini Blvd.
Time: 7:30 AM to 10 AM
About the Artist:Ahmad Nadalian, an Iranian artist, recently completed a fish carving in Washington D.C. at the invitation of the Meridian International Center. Recognized as an important environmental artist he was invited to participate in the Venice Biennale in 2003 and continues to make carvings worldwide. While in the U.S. he visited NYC and carved fish in Central Park.
Below is a visual narrative of Ahmad Nadalian’s recent fish carving in Central Park with a map and directions.
I carved a collection of Fish and dropped them in the stream.
Other Permanent Installations
2007 – Red People, conceptual installation in Kansas City, Missouri, USA
2004 – Fairy Rock Memorial, commissioned by the Municipality of Ramontiu, France
2004 – Inner Purification Monument, commissioned by the Municipality of Mallorca, Spain
2003 – Civilizations, stone carving series at Goethe Institute, Germany
Works in Iranian Museums
Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran
- Khorramshahr Painting (1981), acquired in 1982
- Farewell Painting (1982), acquired the same year
- Goddess Relief I (2009), acquired by the museum
- Goddess Relief II (2009), acquired by the museum
- Goddess Relief III (2009), acquired by the museum
- The River Still Has Fish – a composition of a river carving photo and the original stone (donated by Mrs. Mir-Emadi)
- The Death of Fish – a combination of a sand print with boot marks and a cylinder seal (donated by Mrs. Mir-Emadi)
Three additional reliefs donated by Mrs. Mir-Emadi are said to have been transferred to the Museums of Contemporary Art in Kerman and Abadan.
In total, ten of Ahmad Nadalian’s works are preserved in various museums across Iran.
His engraved seal used for the installation, along with its photograph, is also kept in the archive of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran.

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