Meem Gallery presents a rare group of works by Sohrab Sepehri from the early 1960s. One of Iran's
foremost Modernist painters and poets, Sepehri's work is best known for its natural subject matter and
muted palette. In contrast, this collection of paintings and gouache of paper works demonstrate the
artist's often overlooked versatility of form and mastery of colour.
Executed soon after completing extensive travels in Europe, Africa and Asia, the works exhibit the
impact of Sepehri's exposure to the wider world, m ost notably reflecting his experiences of working as
a print-making apprentice in Tokyo. His fascination with Japanese arts and philosophy is evident
throughout the work with elements reminiscent of Zen art and poetry, with its acutely paired down
simplicity of form always present.
Contrasting fields of colour overlap against a defined background to make up the artist's sophisticated
compositions, giving a sense of an unknown quantity of space reaching beyond the limitations of the
margins. Bold, confident brush strokes permeate the work with a powerful expressiveness, lending
movement and depth designed to draw the viewer in.
A famed member of the Saqqaqaneh school, Sohrab Sepehri established his reputation as an artist
with important exhibitions both in Iran and across the globe, including the 1958 Venice Biennale.
Often referred to as the father of Modern art in Iran, his deeply humanistic nature, imbued his artistic
practice with a spiritual density which went far beyond the technical aspects of his work.
