Beautiful—If You Don’t See

Year : 2017
Dimension : 36 × 29 × 11.5 cm (Height × Length × Depth)
Weight : 600 grams
Edition Size : Unique piece
Base Price : Sold
Artist : Mahmood Rafati
Material : Natural wood, bird figure with nest, nesting strip, hidden stone, wooden base
Technique : Sculpting with natural wood to create a bird figure carrying a nest on its wings; incorporating a nesting strip and a hidden stone within as symbols of unseen burdens. Set on a simple wooden base, the technique emphasizes the contrast between serene outward appearance and latent inner threat, using formal details to subvert the viewer’s initial perception.

At first glance, the bird appears a symbol of peace and life—a nest on its wings, a sign of calm. But a closer look reveals a stone hidden inside that nest—not maternal weight, but latent threat. *Beautiful—If You Don’t See* reflects the tension between deceptive appearances and hidden realities; a bird bearing not flight, but collapse. A message for today’s world, where even peace can mask unspeakable burdens.