Interwined, 2023, Acrylic paint and gold leaf on canvas, 110 x 75 cm
Goodman Gallery presents Promise of Paradise, a solo exhibition by Iranian-born, South African-based artist Sepideh Mehraban. Presenting a new series of paintings, the artist offers celebratory scenes that project a more hopeful view on the future of life in Iran.
Over the last decade Mehraban has looked at Iran’s contemporary history, with a particular focus on censorship, discriminatory laws against women and unpacking who has the power to write history. The artist also considers the parallels between post revolution Iran and post apartheid South Africa, and how the promise of a better life for the majority is not always met. Since 2018, Persian carpets have held a presence in the artist’s practice, operating as both canvases and as significant cultural objects that signify regional patterns and homelife. Continuing this, Mehraban’s new body of work resembles the bright colours and woven structures of Persian carpets, transferring the decorative designs to oil paint and gold leaf’s malleability. This is paired with imagery and poetic references to 13th- 16th century Persian miniatures, portraying celebratory scenes, lovers enjoying the outdoors and moments of joy in everyday life. Revisiting this ancient heritage is a homage to Iran’s rich history and presents a vision of a bright future for contemporary Iran.
