Mohsen Meysami​ - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue See

14 October - 12 November 2017 - Opening Saturday 14 October 2017, 2 - 4pm

​Artist Statement
 
I grew up amid the Iran-Iraq war which affected my life in different ways; this 8-year long battle is regarded as “The Holy Defence” in the current discourse of the Republic of Iran, yet its impact on my father’s mental and physical health and the loss of my 15-year-old cousin gave me sufficient reason to not only hate but also oppose wars.
I have embarked on a journey of discovering and utilising visual elements from Persian art and culture to give voice to my own concerns and position as an Iranian artist. The narrative, symbolism, and repetition are the main characteristics of Persian traditional arts, which I am using as methods of illustration in the creation of my recent artworks. This is a substantial difference between my recent and previous series of artworks, especially the ‘Bokosh Bokosh’ series -- a combination of mainly digital and hand-drawn illustrations together with installation works.
In selecting rugs and fabrics that I use in my artworks, the weaving quality and the precision of design and pattern are not my major concerns. Moving beyond these, I am looking for features which express and underpin concepts such as antiquity, resistance, simplicity, and peace which sit in stark contrast to the terrorising and militant image of Middle Eastern people portrayed by the mainstream media.
 
Mohsen Meysami
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[Mohsen Meysami Website]
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Patterns # 3, 2017
Digital illustration
35 x 50 cm

Patterns # 4, 2017
Digital illustration
35 x 50 cm

Between the devil and the deep blue sea, 2016
Sequins, yarn, and embroidery thread. Stitching on used Persian Kilim
90 x 140 cm


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Between the devil and the deep blue sea Detail

Vicious circle!, 2016
Embroidery on used Termeh,
47 x 29 cm


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Vicious circle! Detail


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