What’s love by Hossein Valamanesh features the Farsi word for ‘love’ repeated in gold leaf to create an effect reminiscent of naturally occurring patterns, like fish scales or honeycomb. References to natural geometry in Islam often point to the presence of cosmic harmony and divine influence.¹ The curvature of the Farsi characters creates a dynamic circular rhythm in the work, drawing the viewer’s eyes upward and to the right, only to have the curvature of the oval return them to the bottom. This movement elicits contemplation on the circular nature of life, love and relationships, themes seen throughout Valamanesh’s work. Indeed, many of his artworks are inspired by Persian poetry, particularly the work of thirteenth-century poet Jalāl-al-Dīn Moḥammad Rūmī who writes on the depth and power of love and connection.² The enigmatic nature of this work is punctuated by the title, which omits a question mark at the end of the phrase ‘What’s love’ — leaving it to the viewer to decide if the artwork is posing the question or providing the answer. 

 Endnotes

1. Wendy MK Shaw, ‘Mimetic Geometries’, in What Is ‘Islamic’ Art?: Between Religion and Perception, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2019, p.284.
2. Sarah Thomas, Hossein Valamanesh: A Survey [exhibition catalogue], Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, 2001, p.22.