Arghavan Khosravi’s radiant sculptures meditate on subconscious terrains—huge
Known for addressing issues of censorship and inequality, Iranian artist Arghavan Khosravi (previously) has long used her bold, fragmented work to address relevant large-scale issues around the world. Her captivating color palette and delicate patterns are eye-catching, paired with unique symbols of tension: chains, ropes binding body parts, and billowing flames.
While her concerns are global, Khosravi has always viewed her approach as something of a comfort medicine to help her cope with difficult times. So perhaps the inward turn of her latest work explores this territory even further, as she allows herself to delve deeper into the personal and collective subconscious.
The past year has given rise to a period of introspection, which the artist translated into a series of smaller altarpieces. She calls them “intimate structures whose interior spaces have their own symbolic meaning. It’s a way of temporarily moving inward, allowing ideas to surface without a predetermined destination.”
The subconscious and symbolism have long played an important role in her work, and recent works are similar. Many seemingly disparate components merge into the surreal scene, with recurring images of long, flowing hair, bright balls of light, birds, and patterns from historic Persian architecture and design. While earlier works often featured windows, doorways, and other portal-like structures, Khosravi’s new works peek out from within, inviting viewers into a new realm.
The artist is in the early stages of planning a solo exhibition at Uffner & Liu Gallery in New York next year. Until then, follow her practice on Instagram.
