Mohsen Gallery Presents Two New Collections by Mehrdad Afsari

The Iranian photographer presents ‘The Hidden Law of Reason’ and ‘Years Long Gone’ as part of his fourth solo exhibition at the Tehran gallery

Mehrdad Afsari’s latest exhibition at Tehran’s Mohsen Gallery is a testament to the Iranian photographer’s commitment to exploring nature, memory and the possibilities and interpretation of the photographic image. He is chiefly concerned with capturing truth, both inspired by the landscape around him and drawing on his own memory, creating within these works both a personal and collective narrative that resonates within Iran and her people. 

In his landscapes, Afsari pays homage to the late art critic, John Berger, who rejected traditional cultural aesthetics in favour of raising questions about the hidden ideologies that can exist in visual images. In fusing individual and collective memories, Asfari tries maintain a neutral stance, while encouraging the viewer to reach their own conclusion on whether photographs actively mirror or merely reflect reality. The distinction between the two, the active mirror and passive reflection, is something he consistently explores in his work.

Two collections will be on show in the Tehran space. In his Years Long Gone series, Afsari concentrates on photographing remote, isolated locations; possessing a bleak beauty, these are contemplative studies in stillness. The Hidden Law of Reason, however, takes a more human approach and considers the numerous ways in which we influence our environment, containing poignant undertones of the traces humans will eventually leave behind.

Mehrdad Afsari’s Years Long Gone and The Hidden Law of Reason will be on display at Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, from 27 January until 15 February 2017. Mohsen.gallery