Wednesday, 2 March 2011

My Super Hero Exhibition: Opening simultaneously in Los Angeles and Tehran

March 4th: Aaran Gallery, Tehran
March 5th: Morano Kiang Gallery, Los Angeles
 

A selection of art work by Iranian contemporary artists:  
Sara Abbasian - Maryam Amini - Mojtaba Amini- Amir Ali Bashiri - Nasim Davari - Ala Dehghan - Ala Ebtekar - Shahram Entekhabi - Arash Fayez - Siamak Filizadeh - Farhad Fouzoni - Barbad Golshiri - Arash Hanaei - Elika Hedayat -Sahand Hesamyan- Ali Reza Jodey - Ghazal Khatibi - Abbas Kowsari- Farsad Labbauf - Behdad Lahooti - Amitis Motevalli -  Hadi Nasiri - Nazanin Pouyandeh - Hamed Rashtian- Neda Razavipour - Behrang Samadzadeghan -Baktash Sarang Javanbakht - Arash Sedaghatkish - Jinoos Taghizadeh -  Newsha Tavakolian - Morteza Zahedi. 

 Morteza Zahedi . "The Kiss" . Bronze 50x30x40 cm.
Curators’ Note:
Rostam the National Hero of Persia , closely resembles the notion of Hollywood’s Superheroes. He had a costume , a Hood , a super fantastic horse , a gallery of Archenemies , Magical connections and godlike friends , unprecedented powers and strong tendency  to combat threats against Humanity.

Rostam was immortalized by the famous 10th Century AD poet Ferdowsi , in the Shahnameh ( Book of Kings ). A legacy which has remained alive and vigorous, cherished by Iranians for centuries. The epic of Shahnameh depicts A fantastical world a fairyland where the first man who was an Iranian king rules and the prowess of various early heroes magnifies the Persian legacy.
Persian myths are of ancient origin, involving fantastical figures and supernatural powers. All referring to the legendary past of Iran , mirroring the attitudes of society towards confrontation of Good and Evil ; The Ancient conflict.

A hero is supposed to spring to life in the face of danger and adversity and to display courage and the will for self sacrifice. By inventing legends and mythical heroes, humans have given their lives a larger setting. Solace to combat the fear of death and extinction; A great silence.

Myth very much like art, is about the unknown; it is about that for which we initially have no words no immediate presence or objective existence. Another plane that exits alongside our own world . Myths invoke the sublime moments when we seem to be transported beyond our ordinary concerns. The experience of transcendence. We seek out moments of ecstasy, when we feel deeply touched within and lifted momentarily beyond ourselves. Like a novel , a movie or a painting, myth is make believe , it’s a game that transfigures our fragmented wretched world .

The Persian artists for centuries have used mythology and poetry, to depict a wondrous world ,loyal to ideals of beauty , truth and perfection. A world where they have found the redeeming answer to brutality chaos and frustration that has been a part of daily life for centuries .Artists have created sanctuaries, providing consolation, delight and revelation for their audiences. They have preserved Persian legacy , enriched our lives and inspired us as a Nation to become better than we are.

A significant portion of Iran’s  contemporary art works  have a rhythmic beat of pain and anxiety; the anxiety and obsessions of a young generation, initially grown up in a childhood with the revolutionary violence, and the worry and fears of the war years, and ultimately matured in an environment of scarcity, impositions, limitations, apprehensions and concerns. Despite all they dare and speak the truth to the existing powers. Working within the boundaries of state and self censorship ;  Screaming in an oblique language.

Much like Epic Heroes they venture from the world of common day in to the  unknown , facing adversaries that try to defeat them in their  journey .They illustrate traits , perform deeds and exemplify certain morals , always perfecting the art of resistance. Let us hope that the Decisive Victory shall be theirs’.

Nazila Noebashari
Aaran Gallery Tehran


 Sahand Hesamiyan: "Me As A Lion, As A Hero" Stainless steel. 86x80x42 cm.

Amitis Motevalli: "Let them eat yellowcake; Love letters to Jeremy,"  video still


Arash Fayez: "Against Hermeneutic", Digital photographic print


Barbad Golshiri: "Narcissus Echoes, Aplastic play", Stainless steel mirrors, megaphone (horn loud speaker).


Farsad Labbauf:"Liquid Light - (A portrait of Gabo)", Oil on canvas
Morano Kiang Gallery, Los Angeles 
www.moronokiang.com
Aaran Gallery, Tehran
www.aarangallery.com


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