TEHRAN, Dec. 14 (Mehr News Agency) -- Painter and sculptor Iraj Karim-Khan Zand died of cancer at Tehran's Pars Hospital on Thursday. Born in 1952, Zand was a student of Mohsen Vaziri-Moqaddam, one of the pioneers of modern art in Iran. He had also been a university student in Paris.

"He could have had a bright future and could have created great works," Vaziri-Moqaddam told ISNA on Friday.

He displayed great skill in his metal sculptures, such that his works in this medium were called the "lovely singing of iron".

Several members of the Iranian Sculptors Society went to the Pars Hospital after his death to prepare a mold of his face for a sculpture.

Tehran's Khak Gallery opened a week-long exhibition of his works on December 6 while he was in the hospital.

His funeral procession is to begin in front of the Iranian Artists Forum tomorrow.

... Payvand News - 12/15/06 ... --