Tara Gallery is pleased to welcome Chahab Tayefeh-Mohajer hailing all the way from France for his first solo exhibition at Tara Gallery. Ancient Meets Contemporary will be on view December 6 through December 24.
The welcome reception will be held Saturday, December 6 from 6-9 p.m. An exclusive Q&A with Chahab at will be held at 7 p.m., followed by a signing of his self-titled book Chahab. Published in France only, this coffee table book riddled with Chahab’s contemporary masterpieces is available for purchase exclusively at the Tara Gallery.
Although he left his home in Iran over 40 years ago to settle in France, Chahab continues to explore Iran’s rich history, cultural heritage and famous excavation sites for inspiration. The city of Jiroft, an archeological haven located in the southeastern province of Iran, Kerman, has especially been a source of fuel for his vivid and emotional imagination. The mysterious ancient ruins of Jifort have allowed him to cultivate and reconcile his love affair with archaeology and give those long lost secrets a new purpose.
Chahab’s unique technique of working with pigment, mineral, and acrylic has lent his art a refreshing intricacy that reflects the primal form of expression found in antiquities yet is wholly modern, abstract and immeasurable. He believes his pieces are “Rebuilding the depths of Iranian art in the universal context” by reimagining and reinterpreting classic art forms such as calligraphy and miniatures through unprecedented artistry.
“What can be asserted, without hesitation, is that Chahab has chosen to create in a global spirit,” says author and artist, Michele Dieuzaide in Chahab. “We know to what extent this surrender to the work in progress conceals an element of mystery, which may sometimes arise out of magic.”
What makes Chahab a true pioneer is not just the delicate ambience of colors and texture but that each piece from inception begins with a story and intent. As an Iranian contemporary artist residing in France, Chahab has weaved his personal story into a universal tale. The end result is Ancient Meets Contemporary, an epic and multicultural journey not found in any textbook or glossy travel brochure.
About Chahab Tayefeh-Mohajer: Chahab was born in Iran, educated in Holland and France where he graduated with honors in Fine Arts from Ecole des Beaux-Arts de Marseille. His work has been exhibited all over Europe and the Middle East. He will be featured next in Iran’s most prominent contemporary art gallery, the Golestan Gallery in Tehran.
About Tara Gallery: Hidden in Santa Monica’s busy retail strip, Tara Gallery is an unassuming space teeming with influential work of outspoken artists who have been kept in political or social obscurity. Tara Gallery is sponsored by the American Foundation for Contemporary Iranian Art (AFCIA), dedicated to promoting and supporting contemporary Iranian art and culture. Ms. Homa Taraji is the co-founder and president of AFCIA (www.afcia.org) and the owner and director of Tara gallery. She is a curator of contemporary Iranian art in the United States since 2002 organizing exhibitions in Los Angeles, New York, Houston, and Boston. She represents a broad range of artists in Iran whose work she represents in the U.S.
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