EXHIBITION AT THE GALLERY 8, LONDON Babak Rashvand’s First London Solo Show

Babak Rashvand infront of the Gallery 8, London / Courtesy of the Artist

A visual artist and Creative Director, Babak Rashvand was born in Iran in 1980. He studied visual communication at the Tehran University-Faculty of Fine Arts, where he completed his masters in 2009. As a visual artist he finds his inspiration in painting, calligraphy, illustration and graphic art.

Babak Rashvand said: "I regard colours as the most wonderful possibility to depict anything from life to a dream and whatever possible in these two realms. On my canvases, you will see colours differently from different angles, depending on where you stand and how you look, just like the beauties in life which all depend on your vantage point and how you see them."

Rashvand is a recipient of many awards for his work such as the First award at the 22th National College Student Festival (The section of Typography) in Tehran-Iran, 2007; the Second award at the National College Student Festival (The section of Calligraphy Painting) in Tehran-Iran, 2006; the First award at “Falaq”, National College Student Festival (The section of Poster) in Tehran-Iran, 2006; the Third award at the 21th National College Student Festival (The section of Poster), in Tehran-Iran, 2006 and the First award at the 13th International Festival and Exhibition of Quran (The section of Calligraphy Painting) in Tehran-Iran, 2005; and many more. He has participated in many festivals and exhibitions in Iran, France, UAE, Russia, Austria and Albania.

Art Historian Maria Migadi explains, "Babak is an artist who has always derived pleasure from writing and reading. For, these activities embrace lifetime feelings and purposes within the artist's existence: Love, Happiness, Silence, Sorrow, Depth... It is noteworthy that the central meaning of Babak's artworks are the letters, which create the words that express the above feelings. However, his exceptional input in the so called Persian Calligraphy Painting is the elongation and the distortion of the letters, which become abstract forms. These could be seen as personifications of freedom and universality as by losing their standard format, letters become free from any connotations. There is no country of origin or a certain vocal sound reminiscent of Rashvand's artworks. On the contrary, the works can be seen as a dance and a homage to the eternal and universal language of music."

Highlights

Souvenir Series

Souvenir Series, 'Tree of Letters', acrylic on canvas, 140 x 170 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Souvenir Series, 'Jaan', acrylic on canvas, 150 x 150 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Souvenir Series, 'Stone', acrylic on canvas, 140 x 140 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Souvenir Series, 'Love', mixed media on canvas, 70 x 100 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Night Series

Night Series, 'Colorful Night', acrylic on canvas, 140 x 140 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Night Series, 'Golden Night', mixed media on canvas, 150 x 150 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Night Series, 'Calm Night I', mixed media on canvas, 140 x 140 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Night Series, 'Calm Night II', mixed media on canvas, 140 x 140 cm, 2015/ Courtesy of the Artist

Letters Series

Letters Series, 'Qasideh', mixed media on canvas, 150 x 180 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist

Letters Series, 'Spring Letters', mixed media on canvas, 140 x 170 cm, 2015 / Courtesy of the Artist