Inlaid artwork on theme of Yalda Night celebration unveiled at Kish center

TEHRAN,Dec.22(MNA) -- An intarsia artwork on the theme of the Yalda Night, the longest night of the year which is celebrated by Iranians at the end of the last day of autumn, was unveiled at the Kish International Convention Center on this day which fell on Thursday. The artwork belongs to a collection created by Kiumars Sayyad, an outstanding Iranian artist in this art form. This collection is also composed of 20 other works which were put on display in an exhibition at the center. Sayyad was inspired to create the artwork by a painting by the teahouse painter Mohammad Hamidi. The artwork depicts members of a family gathering around a spread of Yalda Night. Sayyad did not use colors or lines to create the artwork, which has been made of thin pieces of wood from walnut, orange, jujube, hornbeam and sycamore trees. Yalda Night, which is also known as the Chelleh Night, is the longest night of the year during which the ancient Iranians celebrated the birth of Mithra, the goddess of light. Family members get together at the home of the elders and stay until after midnight to celebrate the Yalda Night. They serve dried and winter fruits, nuts, pomegranates and watermelons.