Taraghijah's oriental, mysterious works demand our attention and build bridges between different cultures, as well as between heaven and earth.
Exactly as one imagines a Persian: dark skin, black eyes, aquiline nose and a beard -M.A. Taraghijah. His appearance expresses refinement and peace. The artist spends the summer in Europe but he lives in Tehran.
'Politics and art are two different worlds -I do not wish to mix them,' he remarks smilingly, yet resolutely. He also challenges my prejudices and ideas regarding the culture, religion and the oriental way of life. ' There are good and bad people throughout the world, good and bad deeds.' It is sad that television only reports the dark sides, he adds quietly. He hopes that one day people will come together and live on earth in peace. 'It does not depend on which religion we belong to, at some point we all return to God.' He crosses his hands, his calm eyes beaming. ' Inner wealth is important, only that counts. In the past he had been disappointed when he did not succeed with something. Now he knows everything has a deeper meaning. 'I am grateful for all the obstacles I had to overcome, They opened new ways for me, revealed new insights. ' He lives intensively, convinced that other horizons will open up after death, and that life will continue in another sphere. 'Every day I move a step closer to freedom, ' he says. Therefore he does not suffer existential fear.
His watercolours also express inner balance, harmony and peace. Delicate colours, brown-yellow-ish, sometimes red, black and gold dominate, wake associations of oriental tales and Persian adventures. Legless horses appear to be suspended in mid-air, seemingly connected with higher spheres, eternal light. 'We have not been created for life on earth but strive for a form of existence in paradise.' he comments briefly, without any conceit. Proud roosters crow urging us to wake up, to listen to our inner voice, our conscience. Small images within the paintings of women with large expressive eyes, bundles of flowers, lions, sheep, again horses and roosters, repetitions, connections-harmony and spirituality .
White-a corner, a spot, a shape, modest, but consistent. White-the symbol for purity, for God. ' Our life is being guided by God. He will provide all we require. Fear is unnecessary, because he protects us,' is Taraghijah's conviction. The Arab script, an ornament in various paintings, decorates, evokes thoughts and imagination and allows us to enter an unknown, exotic world and at the same time builds bridges between different cultures. I do not know the meaning of calligraphy, but I find its form attractive; Taraghijah's world is alien to me, but I am fascinated by its philosophy. 'Religion does not matter, we all share the same God. ' His words echo and leave traces behind. His meditative, magical words remain in one's mind and stir up the inner self.
M.A. Taraghijah was born in 1943. He studied engineering during his studies he also liked to paint. In 1967 he won the gold medal in an art contest in Iranian universities. Since then he has concentrated on his paintings. Now he teaches at an art school, besides managing his gallery in Tehran. He exhibited his works in Germany, Austria. Italy, Switzerland, Japan and the United States.
Bettina Secchi , -Flour 1995, Samedan, Switzerland