British - Iranian artist Hana Shahnavaz creates new work for long-awaited Jeff Bridges spy drama, FX's The Old Man

The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, March 29, 2024


British - Iranian artist Hana Shahnavaz creates new work for long-awaited Jeff Bridges spy drama, FX's The Old Man
Episode 5 screens tomorrow; last episode of this series screens 21 July.



LONDON.- Hana Shahnavaz is known for her highly stylised, vibrant paintings which depict the stories and legends of her Iranian heritage. This work - inspired by Persian miniatures and their accompanying literature - is made using pigments from rare, natural materials that are hand ground in her studio. Her chosen techniques are testament to a blending of traditional and contemporary arts, gold leaf and diamond dust make light emanate from the hand-made parchment that is her canvas.

The Old Man’s producers, Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz, along with director Jon Watts, approached FX’s Design team to develop the series’ opening titles. Deep into explorations, the group began to rally around a unique concept which drew from artwork found in traditional eastern fables. FX Design creatives Steve Viola, Synderela Peng, and Dan Masciarelli embarked on a deep research study in this artform and began designing titles around an old illustration of the story of Kalila wa Dimna - a book of fables dating back to 2nd century India that has travelled across languages, cultures, and countries until finding its way into the visual repertoire of Persian art. From the mediaeval period onwards it has solidified itself as an essential part of Middle Eastern storytelling and artistic tradition. Mindful that the final images would have to be painted by someone experienced in this artform and taking care to treat the source material with the utmost respect for cultural history and authenticity, the design team set out to find the right artist. On discovering her beautifully rendered paintings, reinforced by her academic background in the culture and medium, the group immediately and enthusiastically entrusted the project to Hana.

After connecting on the artistic vision, the team at FX showed Hana the explorations drawn from the illustrations of Kalila wa Dimna. Animals and birds display human characteristics in these tales, with a pair of jackals, Kalila wa Dimna central to the plot. These narrative and metaphorical qualities laid an authentic foundation for Steinberg to superimpose subtle, hidden messages which tie into the show’s themes, characters, and story. Hana was asked to use two jackals as the template for seven artworks that would, through hidden messages in the images, gradually unfold the story that would be told in each episode of the FX series.

Based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Thomas Perry, FX’s The Old Man centres on “Dan Chase” (Jeff Bridges), who absconded from the CIA decades ago and has been living off the grid since. When an assassin arrives and tries to take Chase out, the old operative learns that to ensure his future he now must reconcile his past.

Storytelling is fundamental to Hana’s work; her pieces show how man is connected to animals, plants, birds and the wider cosmos. These concepts appear in her works for The Old Man. Here we see the two jackals embark on a journey across oceans, facing monsters and shapeshifting into new forms. As Hana says, “The Persian miniature has always been used to illustrate stories. In order to reflect the story of The Old Man, I had to make the jackals visually distinctive, so one is painted with red earth, the other with sparkly haematite: the first reflects comfort, whilst the movement of the second speaks to a feeling of restlessness. In this story of wild versus tame, the protagonists move through a variety of landscapes, from lush green forests painted in malachite, to dry deserted plains of ochre. The combining of colour and concept helps tell the story in a highly stylised way, making a strong parallel to the realism depicted in the actual television series.”

Hana’s new work will be on show at StART art fair, 12-16 October at Saatchi Gallery, London.

FX’s The Old Man will soon be available on Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories.










Today's News

July 7, 2022

Her 'Chagall' is headed for the trash. How's that for caveat emptor?

U.K. museums face a sticky problem from climate protests

Cortesi Gallery presents four generative artists whose artistic research focuses on the creative process and movement

dan guz man opens "The Rise of the Observed" at Armario916: Interview part III

MSU Broad Art Museum announces Interim Director Steven L. Bridges

San Antonio Museum of Art announces new acquisition

With rising book bans, librarians have come under attack

Fridman Gallery and Voloshyn Gallery present 'Women at War'

Academy Museum appoints Jacqueline Stewart as Director and President

Newly discovered Stubbs dog portrait sells at Bonhams Old Master Paintings sale

Online exhibition at Janet Rady Fine Art considers the beauty of nature

Philbrook hosts major Frida Kahlo exhibition

Design Exhibition Scotland reveals new park bench designs at Mount Stuart

A conductor's career, cut short, still blazes on recordings

British - Iranian artist Hana Shahnavaz creates new work for long-awaited Jeff Bridges spy drama, FX's The Old Man

70 years on: Helsinki revitalises its 1952 Olympic sites, leading the way in circular architecture

Azikiwe Mohammed's 'Forever is Twice as Long from the Ground' opens at Anna Zorina Gallery

Heritage holds a blockbuster auction featuring props, scripts and costumes from producer Joel Silver's Collection

Director of The Musée des Arts Décoratifs Olivier Gabet leaves to join the Musée du Louvre

El Ultimo Grito creates an exhibition proposal for Bombas Gens Centre d'Art

New exhibition at Isaac Bell House revisits the full-length portrait

MCA Australia and Tate announce new joint acquisitions

Art Gallery of Burlington announces appointment of new Executive Director

Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art presents a retrospective of Joan Semmel's work

The Best Outreach Sales Automation Tools

Amazing New Discovery Could Help People Cope With Addiction Cravings

7 PRECIOUS TIPS FOR A MOTHER OF THE BRIDE THAT NO ONE WILL TELL

A Beginner's Guide to Art History




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez

sa gaming free credit
Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful