Keepsake of Longing

Year : 2015
Dimension : 36 × 14 × 8 cm (Height × Length × Depth)
Weight : 1900 grams
Edition Size : Unique piece
Artist : Mahmood Rafati
Material : Natural wood, colorful beads, upright flame-like form
Technique : Upright carving of natural wood into a flame-like form, using flame-finishing to create burn textures and evoke inner warmth. Colorful beads serve as a symbolic rosary, reinforcing the spiritual bond. The technique fuses organic form with ritual elements to express longing, devotion, and beauty born from suffering.

*Keepsake of Longing* is a tribute to enduring love—glowing through scars and burn marks. The ascending, flame-like form evokes a gesture of devotion or prayer, while the vibrant rosary beads symbolize a lasting bond, unbroken and unforgettable. This sculpture is the relic of a longing that grants meaning to the beloved’s presence—a reminder that even through burning, beauty can emerge.

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