Amirhossein Bayani: The Season of Ruin’s Remembrance

A solo exhibition of new paintings by the Iranian artist. “As an artist from the Middle East,” says Bayani, “the concept of liberation often seems distant and unattainable. Yet, when I look at nature, I am able to imagine a future filled with peace …” Bayani’s vibrant and intricate paintings deploy natural elements to express complex emotional states and envision a more harmonious future.

Each piece in this series is inspired by the true story of an Iranian woman who fought for freedom and ultimately lost her life. Instead of depicting them in heroic or tragic narratives, Bayani places these figures within other-worldly forest settings – they appear memorialised as statues or translucent spirits, glimpsed between the trees, standing on a rock or on the edge of a lake. There’s an eeriness to the scenes: the shades of green are vivid to the point of being luminous, the foliage so dense it creates a wall, blocking out the light. “This tension between beauty and horror, for me, describes the struggle for emancipation,” says Bayani. “It all depends on your perspective.”

To 6 April.