THE COMPARATIVE STUDY TREE SYMBOLIC POSITION IN ANCIENT AND CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTAL ART OF IRAN

Abstract

In all eras, tree has been considered as a manifestation of life emerged in different symbolic forms. This element of nature has a close bond with these concepts like life, birth, death, resurrection and eternal life, and manifested in various forms in the arena of myth and art. The manifestation of tree symbol has been seen since ancient art to contemporary art, pictured in various stencils on containers, fabrics, carpets and architectural monument and so on which indicate the spread and relationship with human life. This article mainly studies the respect and honor of tree in Iranian art from ancient time up to present, so the mythical form of tree is placed as an archetype in human`s mind, and its appearance has only changed. The question is "why was tree sacred among ancient artists and how was the symbolic and mythical tree related to people’s belief? " why has its symbol of strength and power been preserved among contemporary artists with a high value in the visual system? Tree has been the sacred and mythical symbol of stability and human needs it for his survival and living, hence it has attracted the artists. This study deals with studying the symbolic place of tree in ancient art and Iranian contemporary environmental works of art by a comparative approach.