Ramin Haerizadeh

From Mon Dec 15 until Thu Jan 15

Discuss this article B21 Art Gallery, Quoz

There seems to be a playful style of patriotism among Iran’s new wave of artists, and B21 are making this surreal, at times kitsch and at others downright bizarre slant very much their own. Following Khosrow Hassanzadeh’s flashing icons, the Al Quoz gallery now display works by Ramin Haerizadeh, whose works have been steadily gaining attention internationally.

Haerizadeh dares to chop and supplant his own beardy visage into the most absurd of situations. Among the collection of prints and collages that B21 have gathered, Haerizadeh takes on the Tavier theatre troupes from the Qajar period in Persian history, sticking his hairy face into a swathe of fabric and behind a set of puckered lips, skitting some of the most popular scenes in Persian theatre – including wedding scenes where men play both bride and groom.

In the Today’s Women series, also featured in this latest show, Haerizadeh’s face returns, now surrounded by haphazardly cut and pasted images from pre-revolution Iranian glossy magazines aimed at women. He now dances on a pair of absurdly stockinged legs, dodging Iranian flags and set against a sickly purple wash.

One of the more provocative artists to have emerged from the Iranian art scene in recent years. Haerizadeh likes to get his face around, and he does it with enough satire to make sure he gets noticed.

B21 Gallery (04 340 3965). Dec 15-Jan 15

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