Floating Nature

Setareh Afzali

September 29 - October 10 2023

Press Release

O Gallery presents “Floating Nature”, Setareh Afzali’s (b. 1987, Naeen) first solo show.
In this collection, Setareh Afzali has brought the deeper and hidden layers of her life experience exposed to pain under the spotlight.
The works in the “Floating Nature” collection include drawings with pencil and drawing pen in various dimensions, as well as sculptures in medium and small scales, made of epoxy resin. In this collection, the artist uses an international and less local expression to explore her world in moments of suffering and dissatisfaction, her life experience of acceptance and non-acceptance of living a reality called pain, and her efforts to heal or reconcile with them. In her works, we not only see the deepest and innermost layers of damage caused by external forces that shape the experience of pain, but also the extremely deep effects that pain has on her soul personally and beyond, on our souls as a whole, vividly depicted.
The drawings move towards colorlessness, while the sculptures are highlighted with a red color scheme. Where texture matters more, color is absent, and where texture is diminished and an immediate expression is needed, the red color plays its role.
On the first encounter, the works reflect the organic texture of the body; whether this body is that of a human or another being. By applying techniques specific to the used mediums, the artist challenges the conventional notions of living tissue integration in both her drawings and sculptures. In line with her studies, she gives them a new perspective, revealing what was once hidden. The artist herself considers these works as a path towards discovery, transcendence and healing.