Reza Derakshani
EVERY DAY & EVERY NIGHT
April 19, 2012 – June 2, 2012
Galerie Kashya Hildebrand is pleased to present new works from Iranian artist Reza Derakshani in his first solo exhibition with the gallery. Derakshani’s driving passion is to create timeless art that, at the same time, addresses the deep social and cultural issues affecting contemporary Iran. His beautiful and nuanced studies of light and dark – sometimes figurative, sometimes abstract, but always improvisational and spontaneous – are political without being didactic. For him, the creation of beauty is itself a revolutionary act with political consequences, especially in modern Iran. What makes his work so relevant and evocative is the feeling of timelessness it exudes coupled with the underlying melancholic tone inspired by the bittersweet moment in history.
At Galerie Kashya Hildebrand, Derakshani will be showcasing two new series of works: an extension of his very popular Day & Night series entitled EVERY DAY & EVERY NIGHT and a completely new endeavor called Gone with the Wind!
EVERY DAY & EVERY NIGHT consists of highly textured large diptych canvases that explore the creative and philosophical moments of life. Notable for their warm hues and luminous atmosphere, these works express a duality of feelings and experiences: harmony and chaos, joy and sadness, the light and dark aspects of life. They reflect the ambiguity and fullness of human lives, reminding viewers of the complementary nature
of opposites. In essence, the works invite experiences that move beyond the either/or, us-versus-them mentality that drives the kind of fanaticism that he sees degrading the rich legacy of his cultural heritage.
Gone with the Wind! are works that evolved from Derakshani’s continual experimentation with new media to express the layered multiplicity of human experience. Inspired by the shifting nature of desert landscapes, he has played with the different shades and colours of natural sand to create memorable images rooted in the iconic imagery of his cultural inheritance. The purpose of this metaphorical work is to engage with the vanishing cultural and aesthetic values in his homeland even though as an artist he considers himself a citizen of the world.
Derakshani’s work has been exhibited and collected widely throughout the world. Following his first solo exhibition at the renowned Ghandriz Gallery, Tehran at the age of nineteen, Reza Derakshani has participated in more than 50 solo, group shows and performances. His works are in high profile collections such as the British Museum, Leon Black in NYC, Sting and Trudie Styler in London, the Farjam Collection in Dubai, the Royal family of Abu Dhabi and SPM in Dubai. Born in Iran, painter, musician and performance artist Reza Derakshani studied visual arts both in Iran and USA, following a diploma in Mathematics. He currently divides his time between studios in Dubai and Austin, USA.
The artist will be present at the opening reception: Thursday, April 19, 2012 from 6-8 pm
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