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Art Toronto 2024
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At Booth A13, Zaal Art Gallery features a group presentation of works by Sirak Melkonian (1931-2024), Parviz Tanavoli (b. 1937), Farah Ossouli (b. 1953), Mohammad Piryaee (b. 1985), Yousha Bashir (b. 1989), and Mahsa Merci (b. 1990). This marks the gallery's second presence at the fair. Art Toronto will be open to public viewing at The Metro Toronto Convention Center from the 24th to the 27th of October, 2024.
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Sirak Melkonian
Untitled, 2022Acrylic on canvas
Diptych
91.4 x 182.9 cm
36 x 72 in -
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About the FilmParviz Tanavoli is Iran's greatest living sculptor. As a guardian of ancient traditions and innovator of new forms of artistic expression, Tanavoli's contribution to the modern art movement of the Middle East is without equal. He is also the most important internationally recognized modern sculptor to ever call Canada home. "Parviz Tanavoli: Poetry in Bronze" tells the remarkable story of this esteemed artist's fascinating journey of creation that has spanned three continents and more than half a century.The documentry features exclusive interviews with Tanavoli and leading figures in the international art world. Together they illuminate the emergence and rise of this extraordinary artist who continues creating artistic masterpieces to this day.
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Farah Ossouli’s work Nazanin (2023) fits within her signature style of blending Persian miniature aesthetics with contemporary themes, particularly around violence and the hidden narratives of women's experiences. The piece depicts a decapitated female head alongside a still life of fruit and a wine bottle, all composed in a serene miniature style. Despite the violent subject matter, the imagery is not graphically explicit, and at first glance, the severed head appears seamlessly integrated into the still life. The contrast between the peaceful composition and the underlying violence reflects Ossouli's artistic approach of drawing viewers into serene, intricate visuals only to confront them with unsettling truths.Ossouli has discussed her portrayal of violence in works like those in her Wounded Virtue series, where she uses the beauty and tranquility of miniature painting to attract viewers, only for them to discover the disconcerting themes beneath the surface. She often integrates poetry and traditional Persian design elements like tazhib (illuminations), combined with contemporary elements, to express the tension between appearance and reality. Her use of miniature figures and detailed patterns allows her to address universal themes such as war, gender, and political conflict through subtle but poignant visual storytelling.
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Mohammad Piriyayee: UntitledIn Untitled (2022), Piryaee transforms ceramics into a mysterious, almost surreal form that at first glance seems to be charred wood. This illusionary quality echoes the artist’s broader theme of exploring unattainable realms.Exhibited as part of his Behind the Seas solo exhibition at +2 Gallery, the sculpture connects to Piryaee’s ongoing engagement with Sohrab Sepehri’s poetic visions. The textured surface and organic shape evoke natural elements, alluding to boats and waves—symbols central to the exhibition’s narrative of utopia and the unreachable.This work, like others in the series, references Sepehri’s exploration of a utopian city from his “Eight Books.” By crafting objects that appear simultaneously ancient and otherworldly, Piryaee deepens the emotional layers of the piece, reflecting his journey with grief and the illusory nature of idealized spaces. The material, typically fragile and malleable, becomes a significant metaphor for resilience and transformation, resonating with the viewer’s contemplation of what is real and imagined.
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Art Toronto 2023
Art Toronto 2023 Booth: A10 Preview Date: 26 October, 2023 Date: 26-29 October, 2023 Location: Toronto Address: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building, 255 Front Street West, Toronto