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What Is Not: Original Oil on Canvas by Melina Ghaemi | VanArtHub

Oil on Canvas39.4 × 47.2 in2025One-of-a-kind original

A suspended wooden cube frames interconnected worlds, creating a serene yet intriguing narrative that draws on surreal and symbolic elements.

Regular price $3,500.00 CAD
Regular price Sale price $3,500.00 CAD
Sale Sold out
Free insured shipping to Canada and the USA.
  • 14-day free trial Full refund, we pay return shipping
  • Free insured shipping Canada 3 to 7 days · USA 5 to 10
  • Certificate of Authenticity Signed original, included
  • Lifetime Trade-Back Trade in for store credit, any time

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The story behind this piece

In 'What Is Not, Is What Actually Is,' a suspended wooden cube frames several interconnected worlds, each operating on a distinct emotional plane. One area reveals bright trees rising towards a sky that shifts, offering a sense of calm juxtaposed against hidden chambers where shadows deepen. A fragile wooden house extends beyond its structure, as a small red figure stands watchfully, observing a landscape punctuated by rivers and quietness. Above it all, a circle of masked figures moves ceremoniously, hinting at mystic intentions below the earth, while a solitary bird oversees the scene from a timeless perspective.



The artwork delves into layered realities, exploring themes of perception and the unseen. Through a blend of surrealism and symbolism, it invites viewers to consider how different realms and emotions coexist within a single frame. Each element, from the ritual-like movements of the figures to the vigilant posture of the bird, suggests hidden narratives and introspective exploration.



Viewers are invited to reflect on the coexistence of multiple realities and the interplay of visible and concealed aspects of existence. It resonates deeply with those interested in surrealist art, conceptual exploration, and introspective journeys.



Artist: Melina Ghaemi

Medium: Oil on canvas

Size: 120 × 100 cm (47.2 × 39.4 in)

Year: 2025

Signature: Hand-signed by artist on lower left

Collection: The Earth Is Not Round

Shipping, trial and returns

  • Free, fully insured shipping. Delivery takes 3 to 7 business days in Canada and 5 to 10 in the USA. Every piece is professionally packed and insured door to door.
  • 14-day free trial. Live with the painting for 14 days. If it is not right for your space, return it for a full refund and we pay the return shipping.
  • Certificate of Authenticity. A signed certificate ships with the artwork, confirming it is a one-of-a-kind original.
  • Lifetime Trade-Back. Your taste can change. Trade this piece back at any time for store credit toward another original.
  • Ships from Vancouver, Canada. Packed by the gallery and tracked all the way to your door.

Technical details

Size
39.4 × 47.2 in
Medium
Oil on Canvas
Subject
Abstract
Style
Surrealism
Artist
Melina Ghaemi
Year
2025
Edition
Original, one of a kind
Authenticity
Certificate of Authenticity included
View full details

About this artwork

Artwork Statement

This striking oil on canvas presents a surreal landscape encased within a three-dimensional wooden box, floating against a dark, ethereal background. The composition is dominated by this open-sided wooden structure, within which two distinct yet interconnected scenes unfold. On the left, a vibrant green forest with tall, slender trees rises from a path that winds into a series of arched openings, suggesting a subterranean or carved dwelling. The sky above is a bright, clear blue with soft white clouds. The right side of the box reveals a more complex narrative: a dilapidated, multi-level wooden structure precariously balanced on a narrow ledge overlooking a serene river. Figures in flowing, richly colored robes, reds, blues, and earthy tones, populate the foreground, engaged in what appears to be a communal gathering or ritual. A lone figure in red stands near the elevated house, while another in red appears to float or dance among the group below. A small, dark creature resembling a dog or boar is also present. In the upper right, a red kite or flag floats in the sky. Above the entire box, a pale, long-beaked bird perches delicately on the wooden frame, observing the scene with an air of quiet contemplation. The brushwork is smooth, creating a dreamlike quality, with subtle textures in the wooden elements and the foliage. The lighting is soft and diffused, highlighting the figures and structures within the box against the deeper, more mysterious outer space. The overall mood is one of enigmatic narrative and fantastical realism.

Interior Design Use

This captivating piece would be a focal point in a living room, study, or a spacious bedroom. Its surreal narrative and rich colors will spark conversation and add an intriguing, imaginative dimension to any contemporary or eclectic decor, fostering a contemplative atmosphere.

Technical Details

  • Artist: Melina Ghaemi
  • Medium: Oil on Canvas
  • Size: 39.4 x 47.2 in (100 x 120 cm)
  • Year: 2025
  • Type: One-of-a-kind original
  • Certificate of Authenticity: Included

Questions about this painting

How big is What Is Not, and what size wall does it suit?
What Is Not by Melina Ghaemi measures 39.4 by 47.2 inches (100 by 120 cm), so it is portrait, taller than it is wide. VanArtHub suggests hanging it over a wall space or piece of furniture at least 59 inches wide, which keeps the painting at roughly two thirds of the width below it. Measure your wall before you order, and remember the 14-day trial covers you if the scale is not right in the room.
Is What Is Not an original painting or a print?
What Is Not is a one-of-a-kind original painted by Melina Ghaemi, oil on canvas. VanArtHub sells originals only and does not sell prints or reproductions of this work, so once it is bought there is no second copy. A signed Certificate of Authenticity ships with the painting.
What is shown in What Is Not?
The artwork depicts a surreal landscape contained within an open wooden box. Multiple figures in colorful robes are gathered in the lower right section of the box. A pale bird with a long beak perches on the top edge of the wooden box frame. The subject is animals, introspection, dreamlike space, landscape fusion, nature and control. It was painted by Melina Ghaemi and is titled What Is Not.
What colours are in What Is Not?
The dominant colour in What Is Not by Melina Ghaemi is brown. The style is surrealism, abstract. If you are matching a room, work from the wall colour and the largest piece of furniture rather than from small accessories, and use the 14-day trial to see the painting in your own light before you commit.
Which room does What Is Not suit?
This captivating piece would be a focal point in a living room, study, or a spacious bedroom. Its surreal narrative and rich colors will spark conversation and add an intriguing, imaginative dimension to any contemporary or eclectic decor, fostering a contemplative atmosphere. What Is Not was painted by Melina Ghaemi.
Who painted What Is Not?
What Is Not was painted by Melina Ghaemi, an artist represented by VanArtHub, a gallery based in Vancouver, Canada. You can see the rest of Melina Ghaemi's available and past work at https://vanarthub.com/pages/melina-ghaemi.
When was What Is Not painted?
What Is Not by Melina Ghaemi was painted in 2025, oil on canvas. It is a recent original rather than a reissue or a later copy.
How much does What Is Not cost, and what is included in the price?
What Is Not by Melina Ghaemi is $3,500.00 CAD at VanArtHub. That price includes free fully insured shipping to Canada and the USA, a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and the 14-day trial. There is no framing charge, no delivery charge, and no buyer's premium on top.
Can I return What Is Not if it does not suit my wall?
Yes. Every painting VanArtHub sells, including What Is Not by Melina Ghaemi, comes with a 14-day trial. Hang it at home, and if it is not right, return it within 14 days for a full refund. VanArtHub pays the return shipping, so trying the piece costs you nothing.
How long does shipping take for What Is Not, and does it cost extra?
Shipping is free and fully insured. What Is Not ships from VanArtHub in Vancouver, Canada, and delivery takes 3 to 7 business days within Canada and 5 to 10 business days to the USA. The painting is professionally packed and tracked door to door, and it is insured for its full value the whole way.
Is What Is Not still available?
Yes, What Is Not by Melina Ghaemi is available to buy at VanArtHub as of today. It is a one-of-a-kind original, so there is only one of it and it is gone once it sells.
What if my taste changes after buying What Is Not?
VanArtHub offers a Lifetime Trade-Back. You can trade What Is Not back to the gallery at any time, with no deadline, and put the credit toward a different original. Because every piece is one of a kind, the trade-back is what lets a collection change over the years without a loss.

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