Hannibal Alkhas produces happy end for Rustam and Sohrab
Master artist and sculptor Hannibal Alkhas is completing his Assyrian happy-ending reproduction of the tragedy of Rustam and Sohrab.
“When I read the combat of Rustam and Sohrab in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, I wept for Sohrab (Rustam’s only son) who was killed by his father. So I decided to bring the story to a different end,” he told the Persian service of MNA.
“I changed the plot in away that when Rustam takes the knife to stab Sohrab, he feels the great power of Sohrab and realizes that he is his son and does not kill him.
“Thereafter, father and son become close friends and decide to help people. The story continues on to the modern world of today where they even travel to the United States to save the American Indians,” he explained.
Alkhas is quite familiar with Ferdowsi’s poetic style and his production will be in both Assyrian and Persian. “There are only a few pages remaining. I am planning to publish the story in the United States to familiarize other nations with our culture. I might also add a few illustrations of scenes in the book.”
The son of Assyrian writer Rabi Adai Alkhas, Hannibal was born in 1930 in Kermanshah, Iran. He moved to the United States in 1951 where he attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1953 to 1959 and earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in fine art.
Painter and sculptor Alkhas has also illustrated tens of book covers. His translation of Hafez’s lyrics into Assyrian is also among his other credits.
Hannibal turns 80 on Sunday June 13. His art students have plans to hold various programs to celebrate the birthday of their teacher at the Iranian Artists Forum beginning on June 11.
Almost 250 paintings and sculptures featuring works by Alkhas from 1961 to 2001 will be put on display at the different galleries of the forum during the 12-day event.
Also arranged are birthday celebrations, live music performances, painting workshops, and film screenings.
Photo: In a photo taken on June 7, 2009, Iranian painter and poet Hannibal Alkhas gazes at one of his works, which was on display in an exhibition at Tehran’s Elaheh Gallery.
Source: tehrantimes.com
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