Born in Ahwaz, Iran MODERN GODDESSES Sabzi's subjects are almost always women -- beautiful, graceful, taciturn and melancholy; they reflect love, mystery and solitude. His women are Madonnas, modern goddesses and martyred saints whose elongated forms suggest instability and internal conflict. According to Sabzi, their anonymous faces make them into religious icons that transcend and defy the demands of reality -- reflecting warmth, charm, happiness, and his undisputed love and admiration for women. His paintings resonate both Eastern and Western philosophies. His rich Persian heritage provides him with ancient images, sentimental Persian themes and memories of innocence.