Shirt #1

Siah Armajani

1958 · Cloth, pencil, ink, wood · Islamic Art

Since the 1960s, Siah Armajani has produced well over 100 public works—bridges, buildings, and monuments—between his native Iran, the U.S., and Europe. "Shirt #1" contains talismanic texts, folk poetry, and verses by the Persian poet Hafez which Armajani handwrote onto the lining of one of his father's suit jackets. Produced shortly before he moved to the U.S., the talismanic piece was inspired by his trips through southern Tehran, where he witnessed the work of scribes and "spell-makers." The freedom of this calligraphic scrawl is characteristic of his early works.

Artist

Siah Armajani

Date

1958

Medium

Cloth, pencil, ink, wood

Department

Islamic Art

Credit line

Purchase, 2011 NoRuz at The Met Benefit, 2012