Ali Ettehad is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and director whose avant-garde explorations in digital media, performance art, and installations have spanned the last two decades. His artistic journey is marked by a continuous sequence of dreamlike expressions, blending poetic literature with vivid imagery. Ettehad’s unique vision lies in his penchant for crafting a cryptic world, striving to visually convey it to his audience. This approach imbues each of his works with new meanings, inviting viewers into an evolving dialogue with the artist.A core theme in Ettehad's work is the intersection of language and literature with myth and ancient Iranian art, presenting an ongoing exploration that merges Iran’s rich cultural heritage with the iconoclastic spirit of modern art. His pieces often oscillate between the influence of Iran's historical visual culture and a contemporary, often rebellious, artistic stance. Ettehad sometimes places his own self-portrait at the center of his compositions and at other times draws on ancient motifs and narratives to critique societal and political structures, exploring the challenges of the modern human experience from a semiotic perspective.
This retrospective exhibition offers a curated view of twenty years of Ettehad's artistic achievements, concluding with his latest project, “Phantasmagoria”. The collection provides an insightful look at the evolution of Ettehad’s work, giving audiences a rare opportunity to revisit the various stages of his creative journey.
Kianoosh Motaghedi | Curator 2024