Parasol Unit Foundation in London is currently showing the work of nine Iranian artists: The Spark is You. A sister show is also taking place in Venice for the Biennale but I’m only talking about the London one here.
It’s a diverse range of work including, amongst others, Sahan Hesamiyan’ s precisely constructed geometrical sculpture that sits so lightly on the ground that it actually seems to be floating.
Another geometric piece, this time playing with perception using thread, is by Hadi Tabatabai with his installation Transitional Spaces. It looks completely machine-made, with the only visible irregularity coming from the thread itself
The geometric theme continues with Hossein Valamanesh whose Lotus Vault #2 echoes the patterned brick floor of the Masjed-e Jāmé in Isfahan in lotus leaves from his home in Adelaide, Australia.
In complete contrast to the cool cerebral works around it, London-based Koushna Navabi’s concerns include displacement and loss. This piece, Untitled (Tree Trunk) however, emits a strong sense of violence and even outrage.
I found it the most confrontational item in the exhibition.
I wasn’t able to photograph the video installation Flight by Morteza Ahmadvand (he also had a sculpture in the show) but the multiple traces of a bird trapped in a box fluttering and trying to escape was heartbreaking .
Photo from Parasol Unit