The Third Line at Abu Dhabi Art 2023 (22 – 26 Nov, 2023) New Works by Farhad Moshiri

Moshiri's art blends the classic shapes of ancient Persian pottery with contemporary colours, evident in large canvases featuring Iranian inscriptions. These jar paintings are a product of his early career and reflect his desire to reconnect with his Iranian roots after leaving the country at fifteen.

Moshiri's preferred medium is oil on canvas, finding the challenge of portraying three-dimensional jars on a flat surface more exciting than working with clay. This choice represents a departure from conventional methods, emphasising his liking for canvas as a dynamic space for artistic exploration.

The artist's colour palette, notably characterised by a strong inclination for blue hues, complements the vessels' shapes, drawing from 13th-century Iranian pottery. The canvas's texture mimics crackled ice glaze, reflecting Moshiri's appreciation for unglazed stoneware. This texture, reminiscent of unworked clay and the shape of ancient Iranian ceramics, pays homage to the artistic tradition of his homeland.

Installation view, The Third Line, Abu Dhabi Art 2023. Courtesy of The Third Line

Installation view, The Third Line, Abu Dhabi Art 2023. Courtesy of The Third Line

Installation view, The Third Line, Abu Dhabi Art 2023. Courtesy of The Third Line

Farhad Moshiri

Living between Tehran and Paris, Farhad Moshiri has developed a personal language in which he discusses commonalities between Iranian and Western cultures. Inspired by Pop art, Moshiri overturns pop culture and highbrow imagery by transforming it into figurative artwork. His pieces are made using everyday objects as well as luxurious materials such as pearls, crystals, sequins, and gold leaf. Although his practice appears playful and decorative, Moshiri offers a critical narrative beyond the shimmering surfaces. He addresses the flaws of contemporary Iran all while toying with its traditional forms and acknowledges the appeal of the Western world in addition to its limitations.

Farhad Moshir, I dreamt of you. Oil, acrylic and plastic colours and silver leaf on canvas, 130 x 190 cm / Courtesy of The Third Line and the artist

Farhad Moshiri, As long as you are, I am, 2023, Oil, tempera, acrylic, gold-leaf and glue on canvas, 215 x 176 cm / Courtesy of The Third Line and the artist

Farhad Moshiri, Being with you, 2023, Oil, tempera, acrylic, gold-leaf and glue on canvas, 200 x 150 cm / Courtesy of The Third Line and the artist

Moshiri began experimenting further with materials that comprise everyday found objects – skillfully layering such materials as cake icing dispensers, embroidery, Swarovski crystals, and even assortments of kitchen knives to make works that incorporate increasingly textured and sculptural approaches. His use of such materials demonstrates his ability to surpass the confines of pure aestheticism with playful irreverence and layered meaning. In his usual subdued impertinence, Moshiri deploys his mastery of Iranian visual vernacular, and an acute awareness of popular culture and art history to evoke pertinent issues of our times. Through 'candy' colours and hybrid materials in paintings and installations, he plays with the codes of modernism while developing a flamboyant iconography.

Farhad Moshiri, Be Mine, 2023. Oil, tempera, acrylic, gold-leaf and glue on canvas, 200 x 150 cm / Courtesy of The Third Line and the artist

Farhad Moshiri, Dear friend. Oil, acrylic and plastic colours and silver leaf on canvas_195 x 210 cm/ Courtesy of The Third Line and the artist

Farhad Moshiri, I Love You, 2023, Oil, tempera, acrylic, gold-leaf and glue on canvas, 194 x 162 cm / Courtesy of The Third Line and the artist

His work has been exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions including The Future Of Traditions, Writing Pictures: Contemporary Art From The Middle East, The Brunei Gallery, SOAS, London, UK (2023); Perpetual Inventory, Volume 1: An Exercise in Looking, The Third Line, Dubai, UAE (2022); There Is Fiction In The Space Between, The Third Line, Dubai, UAE (2020); First Snow, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Salzburg, Austria (2018).

Moshiri also participated in the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art at the Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, Australia (2009) and the 6th Sharjah Biennial, Sharjah, UAE (2003). His works are part of the collections of The British Museum, London, UK; Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, Qatar; the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, USA; and François Pinault Collection, Palazzo Grassi, Venice, Italy.