Amirhossein Bayani takes vast mountain landscapes, dense forests, and winding rivers, rendering them onto uniform wooden surfaces reminiscent of a simple house structure. These are Bayani’s memories of his homeland, psychological states, and suppressed emotions—an attempt to hold the infinity of the landscape within the confining form of a home. The exhibition’s title, The Narrative of Minorities, reflects this diasporic experience and the struggle to build a new sense of home.
At first glance, Bayani’s paintings burst with color and life, resembling a slice of paradise. Yet, they carry an unsettling air. The dense green tones of the forest transform into a wall that blocks light, symbolizing a migrant’s struggle to imagine a future fragmented by uncertainty. The artist repeatedly returns to the image of Mount Damavand, a symbol of salvation and resistance in Iran. The small structures at the mountain’s base whisper the limits of memory, unable to fully reconstruct what was left behind.
These works are not merely expressions of longing; they are a practice of survival and imagining new ways of belonging. The recurring house-shaped panels, evoking both desperation and determination, serve as both a prayer for the future and a memory box.
Exhibition Details:
Artist: Amirhossein Bayani
Title: The Narrative of Minorities
Venue: Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London
Dates: On view through October 25, 2025
