Solo Exhibition

“THE MEMORY OF LIGHT”

Mostafa Mohseni

The forthcoming project, titled “Memory of Light,” is the result of years of reflection and inquiry within the context of Iran’s indigenous culture and art. The roots of this collection trace back to 2017, when the artist’s personal concern about the gradual forgetting of traditions led them to revisit ancient symbols and motifs. Along this journey, what attracted the most attention were motifs that were not found in museums or books, but in the fabric of everyday life; familiar signs that, after passing through the filter of collective memory, continued to exist in the texture of life.

The turning point of this collection was encountering a kilim from the Kurdish region of northern Khorasan, dating back to the 19th century. Among the geometric patterns of this ancient handwoven piece, a recurring motif stands out, which the weaver believed to be a symbol of “light.” This simple yet meaningful pattern served as a key that opened a new window for the artist. They realized that this ancient sign could be extracted from the kilim, recreated in the contemporary language of form, and transferred onto a new medium — without disturbing the identity of its origins.

The artist, inspired by this luminous motif, has integrated it with the overall structure of the ‘cocoon.’ The result is forms that are neither completely closed nor entirely open; they exist on the threshold between silence and birth, between the end of one era and the beginning of another. These cocoons, contrary to initial impressions, do not symbolize stagnation; rather, they are a metaphor for a society that, within the womb of its apparent slumber, carries the promise of a bright future. Each cocoon is constructed by repeating geometric pieces derived from the same traditional motif to demonstrate that the future is born not from emptiness but from the conscious repetition of tradition.

This collection does not limit itself to form alone but also utilizes various media and materials to expand its conceptual scope. The deliberate choice of white—as a spectrum of life, hope, and vitality—as well as the use of surfaces through which light passes along their curves, enhances not only the visual aspect but also the experiential dimension of the work. Viewers, upon entering the space of these forms, find themselves amidst cocoons through which light shines from their historical crevices; a light that recalls the luminous motif found in the 19th-century kilim

Opening:Agu 21 to Sep 11, 2026

16 to 20 PM (Closed on Saturdays)