In 1989, Ghass Rouzkhosh arrived in Paris in exile, from Shiraz, the ancient capital of Persia. Traumatized by the eight years of war he lived through, of which the last two on the Iranian-Iraqi front, he throws heart and soul into painting, despite difficult material conditions. With the 2000s, Ghass gradually gains an International recognition marked by numerous major exhibitions. For Pébéo, the artist, settled on the Butte Montmartre in Paris, examines the role that can be described as Ethics of "his" four colours. Interview by Patricia Chaveau, director of communications.

Ghass : After having lived through the tragedy of the late twentieth century, with its terrible consequences, and having inevitably been marked by traumatic images, I began to paint the ills of humanity in order to awaken consciences. Often when we talk about war, we are content in hearing... But living it is much more difficult and horrible. The Iranian Revolution, 8 years of war of which 2 as a soldier... it's a stage in my life. My painting is powerful, reflecting what I have experienced.

Ghass : As early as 1991, I was taking drawing classes - drawing live models - at the National School of Fine Arts in Paris and began my research on the themes of imaginary art and the symbolic dimension of forms. From that time on, I have worked with only three colours: - Red, inspired by the colour of the sky after a bombing; - Black, by the colour of charred trees; - White, representing peace and innocence. Each colour has a meaning. It reveals an important message. My painting wants to be generous in order to enter into the daily lives of people, touch them, and invite them to reflect. In my eyes, the interest of art is to make the invisible visible. I have chosen abstract painting to provoke communication and encourage reflection and silent meditation.

Ghass : Today, by result of hard work, I am now present on the international scene for my creations ... I can finally say that the emotional shock due to this dark period of war is behind me. Driven by the desire to defend humanitarian causes, I now try, through my work, to bring the spectator to react, to take position, to talk about the world around us, and finally to take action so that together we bring light to emerge from darkness. I chose the colour yellow which represents light to bring life and happiness.

Ghass : I certainly hope! Life goes on. We get older and for the moment I cannot say I would delete a colour or that I would add one. This will depend on how the world evolves. I wish for my painting to be in keeping with time.

Ghass : I have often received requests to do calligraphy, but I have never done so because I do not want to perform traditional Persian calligraphy. I want to leave traces of myself within it. This is actually the case of Noun. This calligraphy speaks to the entire world. Noun, in Persian, means “bread", a universal food, biological but also imaginary, of which every human is in need of. Just like the painting that helps us to "feed" ourselves: educate our children, think, travel, and free our eyes and speech. Today, the world is in revolution, is waking up and Noun is also, in regards to the lack of light and hope, a perspective. It is a form of presence, both intellectual and at the same time sensual, in our society characterized by lack and thus absence. In this sense, calligraphy included in the painting brings out this bivalence between the senses and mind.

1964 : Birth of Ghass

1972 : First painting priced at $1.00.

1979 : Discovery of the revolution

1980 : Shock from the war

1984 : Ghass becomes soldier

1986 : Ecole des Beaux-Arts

1988 : Deliverance of his passport

1989 : Arrival in France

1991 : 3 colours: black, red and white

1999 : First exhibition

2003 : Death of his mother

2004 : First sale to a museum

2007 : First sale at Christie's

2009 : Death of his father

2010 : A 4th colour: yellow