Paintings With Mystical Source of Light

Painter Sepideh Mashayekhi is holding her first solo exhibition at Mojdeh Art Gallery in Tehran.

On display are the paintings in which the artist has introduced western modernism to a context of eastern art. In most of the works, there are halos, white or yellow, created by a mystical source.

In the exhibit she calls ‘Delight,’ Mashayekhi conveys a mystical passion with warm colors and lights. She uses Persian letters and words but not in a calligraphic way. “I applied cubism in the words … I tried to use the words with positive energy and connotations,” she told Honaronline.

While standing in front of the paintings, audiences will find themselves searching for the source of light. “I was inspired by Ishraq philosophy (or lluminationism, introduced by 12th century Iranian philosopher Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi). In this philosophy, God is symbolized by light; so I painted the halos to represent divine compassion.”

Some traditional Iranian elements are incorporated in the paintings. One recurrent motif is paisley which “symbolizes virtuosity and modesty.” In one painting, paisley appears as a bird with head resting on breast. In the other, it is in the form of a bent cypress.

The works are also comparable in terms of dynamicity. “Movement and circulation are evident in the exhibit. I see circulation as among the major principles of existence … I tried my best to portray the joyful dance of cosmos,” she added.

Mojdeh Gallery is located at No. 27, Eastern 18th St., North Allameh Street, Sa’adatabad neighborhood.