About the Exhibit - In Between Places
In Between Places is Arghavan Khosravi’s first solo exhibit at Rachel Uffner Gallery since announcing her representation last summer (2020). I was originally introduced to her work in a viewing room at Lyles & King Gallery and was immediately taken in by her level of detail and use of color and pattern.
Like many artists this year, Khosravi used her time in quarantine to create the works in this exhibit. She still stays true to her style of referencing Persian textiles and architecture, juxtaposing them against modern elements like bandaids and Apple Watches. However, what’s unique about this exhibit is her pushing the boundaries of trompe l'oeil by starting to incorporate 3-D elements into her signature 2-D elements.
“Rendered on surfaces that have been layered to create visual depth, the new paintings evoke the structure of a theatrical set and the corresponding implication of a not-quite-real world built on false appearances.” - Rachel Uffner Gallery (source)
These paintings also represent a deeper meaning (which the titled alludes to) of being trapped between two worlds. This represents her life in America and her life at home with her family in Iran.
“Inspired by the use of stacked perspective in Persian miniature painting and her experiences growing up and living in Iran (where personal freedom remains severely constrained) compared to her life today in America, Arghavan Khosravi's clever, three-dimensional artworks offer a sense of feeling trapped between two worlds.” - Creative Boom (source)
Khosravi usually features red thread in her works to symbolize oppression from the patriarchy, but she pushes that symbolism even further in these works by swapping her signature red thread for a ball and chain.
Video Walkthrough of the exhibit
To see a walkthrough of the exhibit, skip ahead to 15:23 in the video below.
About the Artist - Arghavan Khosravi
Arghavan Khosravi was born in Iran and has quite the academic record. She received her BFA in Graphic Design from Tehran Azad University and an MFA in Illustration from the University of Tehran. She then received another MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Khosravi is an Iran-born artist and paints subjects set in the present day that are confronting their cultural and sociopolitical past. Her paintings reflect her experiences growing up and living in Iran, “where personal freedom is constrained by ideological autocracy (source).”
You can follow Khosravi on Instagram or read more on her website, or read a previous blog post about her show at Lyles & King gallery here.
