mahmood zanderoodi

Mahmoud Zendehroodi, known as “Zendeh,” is an Iranian neo-traditionalist painter born in 1943 in Karaj, closely associated with the Saqqakhaneh movement and renowned for his calligraphic paintings. He exhibited in the 2nd Tehran Biennial at nineteen, held his first solo exhibition in 1966 at Tehran Gallery, and participated in the Tehran International Exhibition four years later. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, he relocated to southern France, dedicating himself entirely to painting. Zendehroodi’s work combines traditional Saqqakhaneh techniques—stamping, printing, engraving, and calligraphy—with his own innovative methods, many of which emerged during his later career abroad. From 1992, he began using a distinctive handmade paper, later called “Zendeh Paper” by art expert Jean-Pierre Roy, which became a hallmark of his work. He signs his pieces as “Zendeh,” the name by which he is known internationally. Beyond painting, Zendehroodi has explored sculpture and installation, creating spheres and columns decorated with letters and words, and embellishing antique book pages as well as objects such as pianos, keyboards, and electronic circuits. His work emphasizes the poetic beauty of form and material. As Claude Bertolli notes, Zendehroodi selects and transforms raw materials with care and sensitivity, while Anthony Blanquette emphasizes the artist’s technical mastery and ability to revitalize the written word, affirming both material and artistic dignity. This professional summary highlights Zendehroodi’s blend of tradition, experimentation, and mastery that defines his enduring contribution to contemporary Iranian art.