"ONE MAN'S GARBAGE IS......." : Fouad Kronfol

When I was transferred to NYHQ in January 1976 as Chief, Middle East Section, we rented a one bedroom apartment at 400 East 54th Street. It was close to the ALCOA building where the UNICEF HQ was, it had a view on the East River (since completely blocked by other high-rises), we were on the 20th floor so experiencing the New York skyscraper life-style, and we had two wonderful neighbours, Adeeba Moussa and Hala Kittani, who were both colleagues and friends.

But my story is about a book. Yes, a most unusual and fine publication that we both treasure until today.

One night when Nadia went to drop our trash down the chute in the small cubicle on our flooor, she returned and told me, "it is funny but I saw a huge book lying on the floor next to the chute and I think it is in Arabic". Intrigued by this unusual news I went to the chute area and saw the big volume on the floor. I picked it up and saw that it was in pristine condition..no tears, not soiled, binding and pages intact, so I brought it home. Nadia's immediate remark was, "Oh no, you are not bringing someone's garbage into our apartment !". I explained that it was not dirty, also that it was not in Arabic but in Farsi, and it had among the most beautiful paintings and drawings either of us had ever seen. After dusting and cleaning the book we quietly leafed through the tome and we realized that whoever wanted to get rid of the book was not able to fit it in the chute opening and so just left it on the floor . More unexplained was why anyone would discard this fabulous tome as they would their garbage?. Perhaps it was some one moving out of the building and having one unwieldy item that was not easy to pack...we will never know, but we were the lucky inheritors of this superb book of Iranian art by a famous artist who was not known to any of us or most of our Iranian friends.

The book measures 13.5 by 18.5 inches and is almost 2 inches thick, a typical "coffee table" publication although its covers are a drab brownish red which is most unattractive and there is nothing but the artist's name "Mahmoud Farschian" in Farsi on one side and in English/French on the other.It was published in 1976 in Teheran, Iran by "Bongahe Tarjomeh Va Nashre Ketab".While few of us had ever heard of this artist, we learned that he was in fact quite well known for his work and the special style that he developed in his oeuvres. We learned many things from the book including that such over-sized publications are called "Folio"in the publishing industry. I would like to share with our readers some of the photos from the book so they can appreciate the work, the style and the colours of this incredible artist. Our many artists among the XUNICEF members will be particularly interested.

Mahmoud Farschian was born in Isfahan in 1930. His father was a well known carpet maker and manufacturer who encouraged his son to pursue a career in art. He was also much influenced by the fascinating inter-mix of carpet designs and patterns and the colorful tiles of monuments and residential buildings of Isfahan. He received his initial instruction from great masters like Haj Mirza Agha Emami and Issa Bahadori. After finishing studies at the School of Fine Arts he went to Europe to study and work in great museums .At the time his paintings were displayed in 17 individual and 32 group exhibitions in Iran and in art capitals of the world. He has developed a unique style of Persian painting and his work is inspired by the great poets and writers of ancient Persia, including especially the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi. He also attributes his style to other famous Persian writers and poets such as Hafez, Saadi, Omar Khayyam and to the intricate details of miniature paintings.

"Clay Shaping Man"..painted by the artist at age 18.

Untitled drawing representing a fish with a human in it.

"The Slope of Life", black and white.

Untitled drawing of an old man and a young woman.

"Flight in Revelation"...

Drawing untitled, showing two dancing girls

"Nobody Learns Down Here"....

Untitled drawing showing a poet and a nymph

"The Whirlpool"...

Untitled drawing of five voluptous Nymphs

"Birds of Paradise"...

Untitled drawing of a dozen small birds on the branches of a tree.

"The Tale of the Reed"...note all the human faces on top of the painting.

Untitled drawing of an old man playing a reed flute with many other men intertwined.

"Sweet Love"...a young man in love carries not only his beloved but the horse on which she is riding !

Untitled drawing of a young woman handing an old man a drink of wine ?

"Charming Grace"...a departure from usually complicated works to a simple largely monocolored woman with veil.

Untitled drawing of three ladies covered with the "chadore", a head to foot covering.

The "Folio" on its reading support from Syria.

*****