Ministry of Nomads

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Ya Ali Madad is Hassanzadeh's account of the prayers of Pahlavani wrestlers and the exceptional etiquette that goes hand-in-hand with the discipline. At the core of their practice is a concept known as javanmardi (chivalry), which dictates that wrestlers be not only courageous but also exhibit a profound sense of modesty, humility and propriety. Their prayer, Ya Ali Madad, calls on the first Shi'a Imam and is inscribed across the canvas, creating a dazzling optical effect. The central figure in this series is Ghulamreza Takhti, an Olympic medallist who is revered in Iran for his magnanimity and noble bearing rather than sheer physical prowess. Hassanzadeh has said of the works: 'The Pahlavan represent many aspects of Iranian culture that we are loosing today. In the Ya Ali Madad series I want to remind people of their beauty, strength and honour'.