Gagosian Hong Kong recently presented the first solo exhibition in Asia by Iranian artist Mehdi Ghadyanloo. Ghadyanloo’s work always exudes a surreal atmosphere, reflecting his childhood memories and highlighting how his role as a father allows him to explore the universal appeal of amusement parks with unique imagination.
Ghadyanloo’s paintings are composed of intricate geometric shapes, colors, and contrasts of light and shadow. The familiar yet mysterious objects he depicts, such as slides, tunnels, and ladders, are mostly situated in shallow, narrow rooms made up of straight lines, with light shining down from skylights above highlighting the details of plastic and metal structures, while the changing shadows simultaneously indicate the passage of time throughout the day.
The amusement facilities in the painting are not just fictional physical structures, but also symbols and records of psychological states. Ghadyanloo adheres to his minimalist style, with no figures or children in the painting except for still life. However, there is a hidden and strong presence in the image, reminiscent of the innocent playtime of childhood, while also hinting at existential themes.
© Mehdi Ghadyanloo Courtesy Gagosian
© Mehdi Ghadyanloo Courtesy Gagosian
At this Hong Kong exhibition, Ghadyanloo explores the theme of duality through his paintings, such as in “Parallel Love” (2022), where two slides spiral in space, reflecting each other. The crown above “The King’s Speech” (2022) turns symbols of social class into child’s play.
Other themes showcase unrealistic or illogical designs, such as the bottom of the slide in “Sky Monument” (2022) being cut off and seemingly replaced by a ladder. The artist further explores themes of artificiality and childhood in the painting “Mysterious Messenger” (2022) with a shiny colored rabbit fur. Paper works like “Glimmering Memories” (2022) present the dramatic effect of slides and light and shadow in watercolors.
Ghadyanloo’s work evokes the contradictory spaces under the pens of surrealist masters Giorgio de Chirico and Rene Magritte. At the same time, he also references Giorgio Morandi’s poetic still life paintings, turning the originally mundane slides into lively and interactive entertainment objects. Visitors are encouraged to visit the exhibition and appreciate how this artist uses his brush to create these joyful amusement park-themed paintings.
Date: From now until November 5, 2022 (Sunday, closed on Monday)
Time: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Location: Gao Gu Xuan, 7th floor, 12 Biseta Street, Central
Image source and learn more: Gagosian
