Press Release
O Gallery presents "Mantled Land" by Afsaneh Masaeli (b. 1980 Isfahan), the artist’s second solo show with the gallery, showcasing a five-year span of continuous work.
Viewing the tree as a timeless and majestic subject, Masaeli extends her previous collection with a renewed perspective on nature. Shifting away from portraying the tree as the central, grounding force of the image—penetrating and decisive, as if all elements of the scene derived their meaning from its periphery—she now depots it alongside other natural elements, each carrying equal, and at times even more evocative presence, inviting contemplation in their own right.
Her drawings explore neglected narratives of the earth’s aged surfaces, evoking at times a fervent, and at other times, a tranquil feeling.
Her use of technical drawing pen and colored pencil, as her primary tools in the creative process—shaped by the subject matter and her perspective towards each work—has been intuitive and experimental, aiming to create environments that are at times sparse and expansive, and at others, rich in detail.
Masaeli explains her source of inspiration as follows: "Sometimes, my subjective image unconsciously searches for a tree or natural space to anchor itself to something real, allowing it to manifest in the real world. Other times, a real tree draws me towards an imaginary world that has not yet taken shape, igniting new ideas and leading me towards imagination. This world exists between imagination and reality, sometimes close and sometimes distant, in a constant state of flux."
Selected Works
Installation Views
