Parinaz Eleish
Leila and Majnun 1
2025
Oil on canvas
98 x 98 cm
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.
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
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
Naeemeh Kazemi
The Wedding of Leila and Majnun, 2025
160 x 200 cm (63 x 78 ¾ in.)
Oil on Canvas
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
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.
