Arndt & Partner Berlin is pleased to present the first solo exhibition by Iranian painter Khosrow Hassanzadeh in Germany. The artist, whose work is currently also on show at the 53rd Venice Biennale, is one of the most prominent representatives of the Iranian art scene today. His fascinating, versatile oeuvre spans a wide range of media from screen-printing, painting and drawing to collages and assemblage. His Berlin exhibition will include work from his latest series Ya Ali Madad (2008-2009) and from his earlier series Terrorist (2004), where screen-printing and painting combine to produce powerful and complex compositions with – as in all the artist’s works – human figures as the focal point.
Hassanzadeh’s work is deeply rooted in his own culture; unlike many of his fellow Iranians, he decided to remain in his homeland to practice his art. Formally, his pieces are primarily inspired by popular culture in Iran. He sometimes paints on cheap packing paper or incorporates fruit boxes and used objects from the bazaar, combining these with calligraphy as well as religious imagery and artifacts. In terms of content, his work addresses social topics and recent Iranian history. He is not afraid to tackle controversial or delicate issues such as the Iran-Iraq war (in which he served), the position of women in Iranian society, prostitution and the war on terror.