mohammad hassan namdari recreates persian heritage sites using chess pieces

‘checkmate’ by mohammad Hassan Namdari 

After imagining how ancient Iranian heritage would look like on Mars, artist Mohammad Hassan Namdari now visualizes, through surreal photomontages, what went down in the last days of the Achaemenid dynasty — also known as the First Persian Empire. Titled ‘CHECKMATE’, this project introduces chess pieces into images of Achaemenidan architecture, showing how the rise and fall of empires across history can be easily interpreted as a game of victory and loss among players. 
private palace, Pasargad historical complex – Pasargad, Iran

reimagning empire victories and losses as a game of chess 

To compose his artworks, Namdari (see more here) used pictures showing the stunning remains of historical sites in Pasargad and Persepolis (modern-day Shiraz). These include ruins of the Tachar Palace, Cyrus Reception Palace, Gate of All Nation, and Throne Hall — all seemingly co-existing with white and black chess pieces re-colorized to fit the ancient context. 

Persepolis, Marvdasht, Iran 

Explaining the concept behind ‘CHECKMATE’, Namdari comments: ‘History has always been iterated repeatedly like a game, where victories belong to those who benefit from past experiences and never give up. This project tries to imagine a new understanding of the historical heritage remains through that lens. For example, Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, is known as one of the most precious and greatest civilizations in the history of Iran, which has ultimately surrendered to the game of its age.’

ruins of the Tachar Palace in Persepolis

Cyrus Reception Palace and the first UN headquarters – Pasargad historical complex

ruins of the Gate of All Nations in Persepolis

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Ruins of Apadana Palace in Persepolis.

Ruins of the the Throne Hall in Persepolis

project info:

name: CHECKMATE
design: Mohammad Hassan Namdari

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom