Introduction
Master Alijan Alijanpour is one of the prominent figures in contemporary Persian miniature, offering a fresh perspective through his work United Couple.
Executed entirely in black and white using only lines, this piece stands as a unique achievement in the history of Persian miniature.
Its message transcends technique: a narrative of love, unity, and connection, born from the heart of Iranian mysticism and expressed in the universal language of art.
United Couple – Minimalist Persian miniature in pure line art.
The Idea Behind the Work
The concept had been in my mind for more than eighteen years. I was always thinking about how I could present miniature linework in a new, distinctive way.
Traditional miniature is full of lines — fine, thick, intricate. I wanted to see if it was possible to convey the deepest emotion with the fewest possible lines.
One day, a friend said to me:
"Master, create something new, something fresh for the whole world."
He showed me a colorful image of a man and woman embracing. It was rich in color, their forms merged into one.
I thought: if I wanted to simplify this scene, I would have to start with the line.
He later suggested:
"Begin with the kiss."
It felt like he had handed me the key.
From Kiss to Harmony
I began studying depictions of kisses in films, paintings, and photographs — transforming them into pure line.
After several sketches, I found the form I was searching for.
Kissing – a symbol of love and unity.
One of the first pieces was a mother holding and kissing her child — an image that has always stayed with me.
Soon, the concept of day and night emerged:
- One version in white lines on a dark background.
- Another in black lines on a light background.
Gradually, the work evolved:
Kissing → Dancing → Flying → Harmony — the moment where two souls unite completely.
Reception and Global Introduction
One early collector purchased reproduction rights for ten works.
Later, at my friend Eddie’s gallery, I met Suzanne from Montreal. She was deeply moved by the collection, acquired two more pieces, and quickly introduced the works on various art platforms.
Suzanne told me:
"With these simple lines, you are revealing spirituality."
See all exhibitions and galleries
Personal and Symbolic Responses
A well-known French television host wrote to me:
"May I have your ‘Dancing’ design tattooed on my body? This piece has moved my soul so deeply."
Similar requests came from South Africa and the United States.
In Montreal, a newlywed couple asked to have one of my Couples tattooed — the wife on her calf, the husband on his forearm — as a symbol of their union.
Philosophy of the Work
To me, United Couple is a form of sacred art — pure, free of superficial figures, revealing humanity and character through simplicity.
"The absence of a united couple is equal to the destruction of the world."
The Woman as the Source
In parts of the work, the woman appears alone — for example, a woman with a horse, without the man.
In art history, horses are almost always depicted with men.
Here, I wanted to show that guidance and strength originate from the woman, flowing to the man.
Every movement in this series begins with her.
In another part, a woman dances alone — powerful and self-contained, yet in perfect harmony with the order of the universe, like a blooming tulip.
For me, woman is the symbol of creation and the guardian of the earth. Without femininity, existence cannot survive.
Message and Timelessness
Art is alive only when it is divine.
Without love and inner spirit, it is like food without salt or spice — tasteless and ineffective.
Once, a viewer asked:
"What is this painting about?"
I said:
It is the story of two lovers standing by a wall, sharing a kiss and the warmth of their hearts.
They are gone, but the echo of that moment remains — resting on the wall, breathing — even after years have passed.
History and Context
Though the idea had been with me for eighteen years, work on the series began in 2011 and continued for four years.
Unlike the ornate, colorful tradition of Persian art, United Couple is minimalist, monochrome, and created entirely with line — nothing else. Yet it carries meaning, form, and energy.
Connection to Iranian Mysticism and the Resurrection Project
Iranian mysticism is filled with ethics, knowledge, and profound wisdom — the kind that inspired poets like Attar, who wrote:
"The earth, beneath the nine domes of heaven, is but a poppy seed upon the sea…"
This vision led me to my Resurrection Project — a three-dimensional artistic journey with three central scenes:
- United Couple – symbolizing eternal love and union.
- Mothers and Their Children – the source of life and affection.
- Mystics – moving from the depths of spirituality toward salvation.
Closing Words
This conversation reflects only a part of Master Alijanpour’s ocean of experience.
For him, art is not merely a matter of technique — it is a language for expressing love, spirituality, and the eternal bond between human beings.