Ashkan Abdoli, a painting graduate from Tehran’s Science and Culture University, has been creating paintings since 2001. Throughout his career, he has drawn significant inspiration from “more Eastern traits in philosophy and thought, especially on opposing ideas and concepts.”
While the current exhibition mainly includes works on canvases, he has sustained an interest and focus on the materiality of ‘paper’ and his interaction with it, creating drawings that show the individuality of his subjects, deprived of any exposed/obvious thematic approach. Working with paper has allowed him the freedom to experiment and learn through trial and error. He has kept notebooks documenting his inspirations, progressions, and explorations throughout his career. About two years ago, after a decade of working primarily with paper, Abdoli started working on canvases, which allowed him to process and explore forms in greater detail. His exhibitions often forgo a subject or theme-based approach but rather seek to present a culmination of his thought and processes.
The artist's creative process involves seeking a form that he believes “holds more emotional significance than the actual image before or after its creation.” He dedicates time to studying these forms, believing that they play a subconscious role for the viewers. While his drawings may depict subjects such as foliage or seascapes, extracting specific forms seems to hold a deeper meaning