Mehdi Nabavi (Iran, born 1978) Lion & the Sun cement and mirror-mosaics on wood signed and dated on the bottom of the base, executed in 2026 45 x 45cm (17 11/16 x 17 11/16in). Footnotes: Provenance: Property from the collection of the Artist Mehdi Nabavi is a painter, sculptor and installation artist whose work has been exhibited extensively in museums, galleries, and art fairs across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Throughout his career, Nabavi has explored a wide range of materials and techniques, with his innovative use of mirrors and coloured glass becoming a defining feature of his practice. In his hands, the mirror transcends its role as a simple reflective surface, becoming a medium for dialogue between artwork and viewer. Engaging with the reflective surfaces, the audience is invited to participate in the work, merging their own presence with the meaning of the piece. This interaction challenges traditional artistic boundaries, transforming the viewer from a passive observer into an active participant. Nabavi's mirrors also carry cultural and historical resonance, drawing inspiration from traditional Iranian mirror work found in shrines, palaces, and finely decorated private dwellings. By fusing these ancient practices with contemporary techniques, his work creates a dialogue between past and present, layering meaning and exploring themes of identity, history, and cultural heritage. Across his collections, Nabavi addresses powerful and often conflicting themes including beauty and violence, identity and fame, and the continuity between past and present. The reflective surfaces in his works serve as metaphors for the fluid and evolving nature of culture and identity, emphasizing how personal and collective histories interact with contemporary experience. Nabavi's work has been recognised in numerous solo exhibitions including Recreation (Negah Art Gallery, Tehran, 2025), Cultural Folding (Nian Art Gallery, Tehran, 2025), Thingness (Iranshahr Gallery, Tehran, 2025), and shows in Paris, London, Toronto, Marbella, and the Netherlands, among others. He has also participated in major group exhibitions in museums such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (Long Live Rembrandt, 2019), Salsali Private Museum, Dubai (Sculpture, 2017), and the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (Neo-Traditionalism in Contemporary Iranian Art, 2014; 4th Biennial of Iranian Painting, 1997). Nabavi has exhibited widely in galleries across Europe, North America, and the Middle East including shows curated by Rose Issa (Ex Voto's, Tank Magazine, London, 2025), Iranshahr Art Gallery, Paris, Montreal, Dubai, and Tehran. He has participated in major art fairs such as the London Art Fair, Art Dubai, Abu Dhabi Art, Beirut Art Fair, Art Kuwait, and Art Expo New York. Further cementing his contribution to contemporary Iranian art, an upcoming publication edited by Rose Issa, Mehdi Nabavi: Reflections - Sculpting Light with Mirror Mosaics (March 2026), explores his innovative use of mirrors and coloured glass. The publication examines his engagement with traditional Iranian crafts and motifs including tools of war, portraiture, geometric designs, and the iconic Lion and Sun motif, highlighting how Nabavi's work bridges historical practices with contemporary artistic expression. Through his innovative practice, Mehdi Nabavi challenges conventional notions of art, creating a space in which reflection, both literal and metaphorical, becomes a site of interaction, contemplation, and dialogue. His works invite the viewer to reconsider the relationships between self, history, and society, offering a rich, layered experience that is both visually striking and intellectually engaging. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing