In the Clutches of the World

Year : 2015
Dimension : 21 × 34 × 12 cm (Height × Length × Depth)
Weight : 641 grams
Edition Size : Unique piece
Base Price : Sold
Artist : Mahmood Rafati
Material : Natural wood, broken watch, metal objects (lock, coin, pin), conceptual assemblage
Technique : Conceptual assemblage using natural wood as the structural base, combined with symbolic metal objects—a broken watch, lock, coin, and pin—to represent attachment and the erosion of time. The technique relies on found-object composition and deliberate juxtaposition to metaphorically depict modern enslavement to worldly ties.

‘In the Clutches of the World’ is a visual metaphor for humanity’s entrapment in material attachments. Twisted branches hold suspended objects—an inert clock, a lock, a coin, and a pin—each symbolizing lost time, unconscious dependency, and worldly desire. Through quiet defiance, the piece critiques modern servitude to possession.

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