The Armory Show 2024

SARAI Gallery is pleased to showcase a dual presentation curated by Payam Khalili, featuring captivating works of two Iranian artists, Faezeh Zandieh (b. 1993) and Mohammad Khalili (b. 1971) for its return to the latest edition of The Armory Show, at booth P24 in the Presents section. The Armory Show 2024 takes place from September 5 (VIP Day) to September 8 at the Javits Center in New York City.
Despite their seemingly outdated style and lack of direct connection to contemporary art movements, these two artists transcend categorization, existing in a space that surpasses the boundaries of solely pre-modern or postmodern art. They employ a unique visual language by reviving historical art forms and infusing them with personal themes. Their meticulous compositions, rich in detail and echoing art history, invite viewers into a subjective realm where they can weave their narratives and interpretations. In their work, while grounded in reality, the artists' mind transcends time and place, creating a scene that reflects a wandering soul's search for identity.
Mohammad Khalili, a prominent figure in the Iranian art scene, has mesmerized audiences with his desolate landscapes for years. Colossal boulders and monolithic concrete blocks dominate these scenes within vast, seemingly endless landscapes. Khalili's masterful compositions deliberately crowd the sky and light sources, drawing the viewer's focus to the imposing structures. Here, the viewer feels trapped, not just by the physical confines of these colossal elements but also by a heavy silence in the air.
Meanwhile, Faezeh Zandieh, a talented up-and-coming female artist who was the winner of the KHOR Art Initiative 2023, transfers her audience to an unknown realm inhabited by solitary or small groups of males whose expressive poses are frozen in time, hinting at untold narratives. Beyond the surface of depicting human physical motion and interaction, her art delves into the raw tapestry of human emotion, capturing
the complexities of anger, confusion, loneliness, and despair. While striving to capture the essence of humanity, her focus on male figures implies self-censorship, perhaps stemming from her experiences with her body as a woman in society. The internalized anxieties around female representation add another dimension to her work.