Sirak Melkonian, deemed a key figure in the modern art movement and a key founder of Iranian modernism, has left an indelible mark on the realm of art. At the outset of his career, much like numerous artists, he embraced figuration as the predominant stylistic element in his drawings, prints, and paintings. Subsequently, he delved into experimentation alongside fellow Iranian modernists, marking a response to the artistic conventions of the older generation in Iran.

Born in Tehran in 1930, Melkonian's artistic journey commenced as a self-taught artist, initially crafting portraits of family members. His repertoire expanded, culminating in a showcase at the Armenian "Mshagouyt" Centre at the age of 16, marking him as the youngest risi...