Iranian painting of Saint Mary surprises Lebanese

TEHRAN, April 5 (MNA) -- Iranian veteran Hossein Nuri surprised Lebanese Christians with his painting of Saint Mary.

What was amazing for them was the way the artist has created his artwork.

Nuri, 56, began his cultural campaign against the Shah’s regime during his adulthood, and was arrested by SAVAK (the National Intelligence and Security Organization which was the domestic security and intelligence service established by Iran’s Shah.)

He was severely tortured during his detention in prison which led to spinal cord injury. His arms and legs lost their sense of feeling and he had to grapple with the pain he suffered in his kidneys, lungs and larynx.

But, he picked up the paintbrush in his mouth with his teeth and began to paint with the help of his wife Nadia Maftuni.

His exhibit, running from March 17 to April 4 in different spots in Beirut, was warmly received by artists, students of art, and especially the Christians.

“My exhibits in Lebanon attracted more visitors compared to other countries like France, Germany, Algeria and China,” Nuri who was pleased with his exhibit in Lebanon told the Persian service of IRNA.

“They liked the tableau of Saint Mary I had painted in response to the anti-Islamic Danish cartoon,” he remarked.

Nuri created the painting in a few days in front of the Denmark Embassy in Tehran with his brush in his mouth, surprising visitors.