TWENTY

S I X A R T
GALLERY

The Persistence of Abstraction

Abstract painting can be its own subject, its own world. One that reveals
itself slowly over time and may not look exactly the same to us from one
day to the next. Humans change from day to day, whether or not they
themselves immediately register those changes. And humans account for
those of us who produce as well as receive art; artists are not in any
sense superhuman . In 1968 Douglas Hueblers famous and humbling
proclamation stated, in part. The world is full of objects, more or less
interesting; I do not wish to add any more. I prefer, simply, to state the
existence of things in term of time and/or place. Now, when the daily
flood of images appears unrelenting, when millions of people across the
face of the earth can lift their cell phones and make a picture in an
instant, can stop time for one one-hundred-and-twenty-fifth of a second,
abstraction even as it continuous to abundantly introduce new images
to the world can be seen as antidote. And if you subscribe to the notion that what artists make is exactly what they want to see at any given
moment ( this is called having faith in the artist ) then the proliferation of
abstract art today may well have something to do with the dispensation
of this antidote.
Bob Nickas from Painting Abstraction: New Elements in Abstract Painting
Phaidon Press 2009

Homa Khoshbin, b. 1954, Tehran. She has received her BA in painting

from faculty of fine arts, Tehran University. She began her career in early
1970s. She has held a number of solo exhibitions in Iran and Germany
and has participated in numerous group exhibitions inside and outside of
Iran. A number of her works are included in the treasure trove of Tehrans
Museum of Contemporary Art.
Laleh Memar Ardestani, b. 1973, Tehran. She has received her BA in
graphic design, Azad Islamic University. She also holds a Higher National
Diploma (HND) in illustration from Newcastle College and a certificate in
life drawing from Northumbria University. Since the early 1990s, she has
held many solo and group exhibitions inside and outside of Iran. She lives
and works in Tehran.
Reza Onsori, b. 1979, Tehran. A self-thought and experimental artist, he
began his career in the early 2000s. Since the late 2000s, he has had
numerous solo and group exhibitions both inside and outside of Iran. He
lives and works in Tehran.

Hossein Cheraghchi, b. 1984, Karaj. He has studied painting in The Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR). Since the
early 2000s, he has held several solo exhibitions and has participated in
numerous group exhibitions inside and outside of Iran. He lives and works
in Karaj.
Shirin Azadi, b. 1979, Tehran. She has studied painting under Shabbu
Dezhpoor, Ali Nedai and Keyvan Asgari. She has held several solo exhibitions and has participated in dozens of group exhibitions since the late
1990s. She lives and works in Tehran.

Azadeh Keyghobadi, b. 1979, Tehran. She has received her BA in painting from Azad University and now is working on her MA in art research.
Since the early 2000s she has held numerous solo and group exhibitions
in Iran. She lives and works in Tehran.

Banafsheh Bandali, b. 1982, Tehran. She has received her BA in painting

from Azad Islamic University and her MA in painting from Tarbiat Modares
University. Her paintings has been shown and included in dozens of solo
and group exhibitions, and since the late 1990s she has been teaching
art. She lives and works in Tehran.

Abstraction: Representation of the Timeless

The present collection contains works from contemporary artists with a
genuine concern for abstraction. The paintings are chosen due to their
visual impression and also the illuminating dialogue between the familiar
instances of the painterly approach and the modern abstractionists.
The objective has been to shed light on the similarities and differences in
the confines of a particular artistic method, by juxtaposing the works. The
attention they receive from artists, art-lovers and critiques alike, bears
testimony to the fact that they are making headwaymore dynamic and
more innovative than ever, with no signs of regress. Conscious and appreciative of achievements made by the pioneers of this domain, young
artists put dogmas and prejudices aside so that they can infuse a wider
range of genres, methods and mediums into their works, with more freedom. They display their individuality and independence in the framework
of an artistic style, with a particular language that is as vital today as it
was made long ago when painters first tried to break free from the restraints of representation.

Hamidreza Karami
Curator
February 2014

With our passion for art and our deeply-rooted love for the community and the
country we grew up in, we are pleased to announce the opening of Gallery 26.
Our mission is to support and promote emerging Iranian artists, whose work is of
high quality, and to provide an appealing venue for established artists through
the creation of an environment of learning, enrichment, and inspiration.
With contemporary Iranian art playing an ever-increasing role in the global art scene, Gallery 26 is committed to stimulating cultural exchange and
discussions among those interested in the arts as well as increasing the understanding and appreciation of the role of fine arts in the changing world.
We are dedicated to introducing a fine ensemble of artists and touching
your lives with beauty and joy. We welcome you to Gallery 26.

Shirin Azadi, Untitled , 2013

Banafsheh Bandali, Untitled , 2011

Hossein Cheraghchi, Untitled , 2013

LALEH MEMAR

Laleh Memar Ardestani, Untitled , 2013

Azadeh Keyghobadi, Speed (03) , 2009

Reza Onsori, Untitled , 2011

Homa Khoshbin, Untitled , 2013


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Design by: Payam.H.Shokraei

TWENTY
S I X A R T
GALLERY