Bahman Mohasses
Fifi, 1965
100 x 70 cm
Oil on canvas
Parinaz Eleish Gharagozlou
Layla and Majnun 2, 2025
98 x 98 cm (38 ½ x 38 ½ in.)
Oil on Canvas
The exhibition delves into the intricate interplay of body, soul, faith, and loyalty through the timeless romance of Leila and Majnun—a story that has captivated the imagination of the Middle East for centuries. By reflecting on the powerful themes of nature, politics, and culture, the exhibition offers a contemporary interpretation of this historic narrative, shedding light on its continuing relevance in the modern world.
The exhibition's heart is the relationship between the natural world and human emotion. Leila and Majnun's love is not just a romantic endeavor but an existential journey—a resonance of body and spirit intertwined with the forces of nature, faith, and cultural politics. The exhibition visualizes this connection, offering viewers a sensory experience that brings this narrative to life through paintings, sculptures, and multimedia installations.
Parinaz Eleish
Leila and Majnun 1
2025
Oil on canvas
98 x 98 cm
Zeinab Alhashemi
Echoes of Gold, 2025
100 x 80 cm (39 3/8 x 31 1/2 in.)
Camel hides, Gold leaf
Melis Buyruk
Majnun sees Layla in the Eyes of a Gazelle, 2025
175 x 155 cm (68 7/8 x 61 in.)
22K Gold Detailed Porcelain, Handbuilt, 1240 Degrees
Aref Montazeri
Untitled, 2025
243 x 243 cm (95 5/8 x 95 5/8 in.)
Mirror
Arash Nazari
Untitled, 2024
120 x 90 cm (47 1/2 x 35 1/2 in.)
Oil on Canvas
Behrang Samadzadegan
The Fall of Leilli and Manjun, 2025
117 x 152 cm (46 x 59 ⅞ in.)
Watercolor on Cotton Paper
Azza Al Qubaisi
Layla Wa Qais 3, Between the Lines Series, 2025
45 x 50 x 50 cm (17.75 x 19.69 x 19.69 in.)
Mild Steel and Stainless Steel with Arabic Calligraphy
Azza Al Qubaisi
Layla Wa Qais 2, Between the Line Series, 2025
80 x 35 x 25 cm (31.5 x 13.78 x 9.84 in.)
Mild Steel and Stainless Steel with Arabic Calligraphy
Azza Al Qubaisi
Layla Wa Qais 1, Between the Line Series, 2025
40 x 45 x 20 cm (15.75 x 17.75 x 7.88 in.)
Mild Steel and Stainless Steel with Arabic Calligraphy
Morteza Khazei
Untitled, 2025
40 x 14 x 14 cm each (15 ¾ x 5 ½ in × 5 ½ in. each)
Wood
Darvish Fakhr
Overpass, 2024
80 x 80 cm (31 ½ x 31 ½ in.)
Oil on Linen
Darvish Fakhr
The Honeymooners II, 2025
80 x 80 cm (31 ½ x 31 ½ in.)
Oil on Linen
Darvish Fakhr
The Honeymooners I, 2024
152 x 81 cm (59 ⅞ x 31 ⅞ in.)
Oil on Linen
Darvish Fakhr
The First Dance 2025
60 x 60 cm (23 ⅝ x 23 ⅝ in.)
Oil on Linen
Darvish Fakhr
Seesaw, 2025
80 x 100 cm (31 ½ x 39 ⅜ in.)
Oil on Linen
Darvish Fakhr
Elopers, 2025
70 x 70 cm (27 ⅝ x 27 ⅝ in.)
Oil on Linen
Darvish Fakhr
Drifters, 2025
80 x 100 cm (31 ½ x 39 ⅜ in.)
Oil on Linen
Naeemeh Kazemi
The Wedding of Leila and Majnun, 2025
160 x 200 cm (63 x 78 ¾ in.)
Oil on Canvas
Maryam Lamei
Untitled, 2025
200 x 150 cm (78 ¾ x 59 ⅛ in.)
Acrylic on Canvas
Sofia Yeganeh
You and I, 2025
39 x 31 cm (15 ⅜ x 12 ¼ in.)
Morteza Darehbaghi
So Intricately Entwined We Are Love, 2025
220 x 110 cm (86 ⅝ x 43 ⅜ in.)
Mixed media and Gold leaf on Canvas
Parinaz Eleish Gharagozlou
Layla and Majnun 2, 2025
98 x 98 cm (38 ½ x 38 ½ in.)
Oil on Canvas
Bahar Sabzevari
Leyla and Majnun, 2025
101.6 cm x 76.2 cm (40 x 30 in.)
Oil on Canvas
Farideh Lashai
Leyla va Majnun, 2008-2010
200 x 320 cm (78 ¾ x 126 in.)
Video, Oil on Canvas
Edition of 3 + 2 AP, Unique Painting
Bahman Mohasses
Unknown, 1969
25 x 35 cm
Oil on canvas
Bahman Mohasses, one of Iran’s most enigmatic modern artists, was born on March 1, 1931, in Rasht and passed away in 2010 in Rome. A painter, sculptor, and translator, Mohasses carved out a unique space in Iranian art, setting himself apart through his radical embrace of European modernism and a profound existential inquiry into human existence. His works, filled with disfigured bodies, grotesque figures, and tragic mythological creatures, reflect themes of existentialism, nihilism, and the destruction of modern humanity—themes that align closely with Umberto Eco’s exploration of ugliness in art and culture.
Bahman Mohasses: The Existential Grotesque in Modern Iranian Art, features Bahman Mohasses, a singular figure in modern Iranian art—a voice of exile, a master of the grotesque, and a relentless critic of human existence. His works continue to challenge viewers, forcing them to confront the dark undercurrents of their reality. In a world increasingly obsessed with superficial beauty and spectacle, Mohasses’ art is a stark reminder of human life's fragility, absurdity, and inevitable decay.
