Bahman Mohassess's Faun Musician Sculpture, Torn Down After 1979 Revolution, Debuts at Frieze Masters
At Frieze Masters, Ab-Anbar Gallery showcases a 1973 rendition of Bahman Mohassess's nude faun sculpture, Faun Musician. This 1.2-meter cast, which has not been seen since the 1980s, originates from a private Italian collection. Commissioned in 1971 for Queen Farah Pahlavi, the piece caused a stir in Tehran, prompting the covering of the sculpture with muslin cloth. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it disappeared for two decades. A photograph from the late 2000s revealed it in fragments at the Tehran Contemporary Art Museum. This version is not available for purchase and is exhibited in London for the first time since 1980, with the exhibition running until 18 October, curated by Anke Kempkes.
Key facts
- Bahman Mohassess's Faun Musician was originally commissioned in 1971 by Queen Farah Pahlavi for the City Theatre of Tehran plaza.
- The sculpture was removed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and its whereabouts were unknown for 20 years.
- A 1973 version, 1.2 meters tall, is on display at Frieze Masters via Ab-Anbar Gallery, marking its first London showing since 1980.
- The work is not for sale and comes from a private Italian collection.
- A photograph from the late 2000s showed the original sculpture in pieces in the basement of the Tehran Contemporary Art Museum.
- Ab-Anbar Gallery moved from Tehran to London in 2020.
- Mohassess is featured in the Queering Modernism strand curated by Anke Kempkes at Frieze Masters.
- Frieze Masters takes place in Regent's Park, London, until 18 October.
Entities
Artists
- Bahman Mohassess
- Farah Pahlavi
- Salman Matinfar
- Anke Kempkes
Institutions
- Ab-Anbar Gallery
- Frieze Masters
- City Theatre of Tehran
- Tehran Contemporary Art Museum
Locations
- Tehran
- Iran
- London
- United Kingdom
- Italy
- Regent's Park