Volume as Narrated by Design - 2002-10-23

An exhibition of paintings and three-dimensional works by Mohammad Hossein Maher titled 'Volume as Narrated by Design' is being held from October 14 to October 24 at the Iranian Artists Forum. Maher, born in 1957 in southern Iran, obtained his bachelor's degree in painting from the Faculty of Decorative Arts and has held numerous group and solo exhibitions both domestically and internationally. In the current exhibition, he showcases 69 pieces of modern paintings and three-dimensional works, featuring recurring elements such as angels, devils, birds, and fish. Maher has aimed to create a surreal atmosphere using colors like brown, red, blue, gray, and cream, employing acrylic and ink techniques on paper or canvas, with the dominant discourse being the battle between good and evil. In many of the paintings, we see an angel standing alone in a sorrowful state or unable to act against the devil, who symbolizes evil, with its hands covering its face. Although birds and sometimes fish have come to the angel's aid, it seems that the situation has drastically changed. It can be said that Maher intended to depict the complaints and grievances of people regarding an era where there is no place for honesty, purity, and truth. This perspective is also evident in the presentation of his three-dimensional works. The displayed three-dimensional pieces are a combination of metal, glass, and wood, created in the form of angelic figures and benevolent creatures, although this time, there are no signs of evil or devils alongside them. Among these three-dimensional works, two metal figures stand out as exceptional. They have been skillfully carved out of a metal sheet and are prominently placed in the center of the exhibition galleries, attracting considerable attention. It could be said that 'Volume as Narrated by Design' is a manifestation of the breath of people who are dissatisfied with the current conditions and the fading of goodness and beauty. In fact, Maher, as an artist and, more importantly, as a human being with nostalgia and attachment to his past, has endeavored to embody the thoughts and feelings he has about the world and life in the works of this exhibition.