ArtDayMe : The Middle East Raha Gallery Collection, which has been actively involved in cultural events for over two decades with an emphasis on supporting regional art, houses a diverse range of modernist and contemporary masterpieces by Iranian and Arab artists.

Among these is the renowned piece titled "Allah" by the eminent Iranian artist Seyed Mohammad Ehsai. Executed with car paint on cardboard, the work measures 68 × 48 cm.

In the dynamic field of contemporary Iranian art, few artists have bridged the gap between tradition and modernity as firmly as Seyed Mohammad Ehsai. Not only has he redefined classical calligraphy through a modern aesthetic lens, but with his iconic "Allah" series—also known as the "Eternal Alphabet"—he has forged a new visual language for expressing sacred and mystical concepts.

Ehsai’s use of the Divine Names (Asma al-Husna) began around 1975 and continues to this day. At the heart of this body of work lies a visual exploration of pure mysticism and spirituality.

The meditative essence of the series is especially evident in the spontaneous, expressive brushstrokes that recall both Abstract Expressionist painting and traditional calligraphic art.

Born in 1939 in Qazvin, Ehsai’s works are featured in esteemed institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the British Museum. His auction records include a notable $1 million sale at Christie’s.

A standout piece from this collection, held by the Raha Middle East Gallery, reveals a fluid and dynamic form where the word “Allah” transcends mere script to become a cosmic motion, a visual dhikr (remembrance), and a spiritual manifestation. The curves and stretched lines, set against a dark background, act like the pulse of a silent prayer, drawing the viewer deep into reflection.

Using Arabic-Islamic scripts and reinventing them within a modern framework, Ehsai skillfully connects tradition with contemporary expression. In this work, calligraphy reaches such a level of abstraction that the line becomes image—not to be read, but to be seen, felt, and experienced.

The color palette is deeply symbolic. The black background suggests mystery and void, a space in which the golden letters shine and transform into light. Gold/yellow signifies divine illumination, while sudden flashes of blue introduce a celestial sparkle and profound serenity. Earthy browns reinforce the connection between this visual prayer and the elements of soil, humanity, and roots.

Ehsai is recognized as one of the pioneers of calligraphic painting in the Middle East—a movement that dissolves the boundaries between text and image, liberating script from its traditional linguistic function and elevating it into a purely visual language. With remarkable mastery, he transforms letters into pure visual elements, where each word becomes a living entity—a sculptural form, a silent prayer.

Above all, this piece stands as a declaration of visual unity: a harmony of form, color, and meaning. Through the fewest possible elements, Ehsai achieves maximum impact. The unified form, the singular word, and the motion toward oneness all serve to convey a higher concept—the remembrance of God, rendered in visual language.

This work belongs to The Middle East Raha Gallery Collection.