White Shadows

SARAI Gallery is pleased to inaugurate its collaboration with the talented artist Seyed Taher Mousavi with a solo exhibition titled "White Shadows." The exhibition opens on May 10 and continues through May 24, 2024.
Driven by an unwavering devotion to the natural world, Mousavi's work centers on his experiences venturing into untouched wilderness. While immersed in its pristine beauty, a concurrent sense of fear arises from the profound silence and solitude. This juxtaposition of emotions fosters a complex and intriguing experience that forms the core theme of his artistic production. The tranquility and serenity of the natural world undeniably beckon him, yet the deafening silence and absence of humanity leave him feeling vulnerable and exposed. This internal conflict, a simultaneous draw and repulsion towards the wilderness, Inspires the creation of his mesmerizing works.
Mousavi meticulously crafts compositions, weaving together elements of trees, branches, and light. The foreground of his artworks often features a tangle of branches, partially obscuring a vast open space that serves as a potent symbol of hope. Though the branches may hinder the full radiance of the light emanating from this space, its presence remains undeniable.
To capture the essence of his inspiration, the artist employs a process characterized by a dynamic interplay between observation, experimentation, and manipulation. This process commences with photographing and sketching nature during his excursions, providing a foundation for further exploration and transformation. Within the studio, a process of refinement and transformation takes hold. Photographs and sketches are revisited and elaborated upon, and colors are carefully selected to evoke his desired atmosphere. This iterative process allows for the gradual refinement of the artist's vision, pushing the boundaries of representation towards abstraction.
This journey towards abstraction is deliberate, beginning with realistic depictions of nature but gradually introducing elements of distortion, simplification, and stylization. Through this process, the artist conveys his unique perception of the world while retaining a connection to the natural world that is the source of his inspiration.