Works by Houshang Pezeshknia, the renowned pioneer of modernist painting in Iran will soon be seen in an exhibition in northern Tehran.
The exhibition of 'Houshang Pezeshknia's Works' will open on October 6 at Shahrivar Art Gallery located at No. 9, Hormuz Alley, North Khazar Street, Elahieh neighborhood.
Its opening ceremony will be held from 3-8 pm. On the following days until the concluding day, November 3, the gallery will be open during the same hours. It is closed on Saturdays, Honaronline reported.
The event marks the 100th birth anniversary of Pezeshknia (1917-1972). It is believed that the artist was not appreciated as would have been expected during his lifetime. Last month, one of his paintings was stolen from Mahe-Mehr Art & Cultural Institute in Tehran.
About 30 artworks will be on display at the exhibition. They are lent to the gallery by Pezeshknia's family and art collectors, said director of the venue, Amir Hossein Zandi.
The works were created from 1950 to 1972 and can provide a review of the artist's progress in the arts.
"Pezeshknia was among the genius modernist artists of Iran whose art was not known to the public due to his short life … He was highly creative and had unique technique. He never imitated another artist. Without worrying about people's opinions, he only focused on his art," Zandi said.
Further appreciating the efforts of the late artist, he said, "His works are not yet fully comprehended. It takes serious observation to understand his art. I recommend art collectors and researchers in modern art to visit the exhibit.”
Pezeshknia is better known for his bold strokes and angular lines, depicting themes such as loneliness, desolation and agitation. His works are sold at auctions around the world.
His usual subjects were ordinary people in cafes, workers and the downtrodden. He usually searched for Iranian identity outside the cities and spent considerable time in rural areas, particularly in southern Iran.
About Pezeshknia, there is a piece written by poet, writer, literary and art critic Javad Mojabi, 77: "He was among the artists who presented many depictions of southern regions, farmers and workers of the oil industry. In fact, there was this tendency among artists to picture the less-privileged strata of the society. The painting created in such fashion, obtained sort of an Iranian identity. In this realm Pezeshknia was ahead of his peers. He owed his success to the honest approach he adopted when painting the deprived masses.”
