Aref Montazeri's 'Immortal Mirror' at Leila Heller Dubai
Iranian mirror artist Aref Montazeri presents 'Immortal Mirror' at Leila Heller Dubai, a solo exhibition exploring psychoanalysis, time, and identity through large-scale mirror works. Montazeri began his career collaborating with Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian and apprenticing under Parviz Tanavoli, later developing his own approach he calls 'mirror follows narrative.' His labor-intensive compositions, taking years to produce, incorporate chemical oxidation to represent time and employ curved geometries inspired by Jacques Lacan's 'mirror stage' theory. The works weigh up to 200 kg and measure two meters in diameter, creating tension through scale. Notable pieces include 'Immortal Mirror 7,' featuring muted aluminum disrupting the mirror surface, and 'Immortal Mirror 1,' where a concave mirror is echoed by a pewter carpet. Montazeri, like Jeff Koons and Yayoi Kusama, seeks to engage viewers in a dialogue with their own reflections, prompting contemplation of deeper realities. The exhibition runs until September 20.
Key facts
- Aref Montazeri's solo exhibition 'Immortal Mirror' is at Leila Heller Dubai.
- Montazeri collaborated with Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian and apprenticed under Parviz Tanavoli.
- His approach is termed 'mirror follows narrative,' grounding mirrorwork in human experiences.
- The works incorporate chemical oxidation to represent the passage of time.
- The exhibition draws on Jacques Lacan's 'mirror stage' concept of ego formation.
- Works weigh up to 200 kg and are up to two meters in diameter.
- 'Immortal Mirror 7' features muted aluminum disrupting the mirror surface.
- 'Immortal Mirror 1' includes a concave mirror echoed by a pewter carpet on the floor.
- Montazeri is compared to Jeff Koons and Yayoi Kusama in engaging viewers.
- The exhibition runs until September 20.
Entities
Artists
- Aref Montazeri
- Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian
- Parviz Tanavoli
- Jacques Lacan
- Jeff Koons
- Yayoi Kusama
Institutions
- Leila Heller Dubai
Locations
- Dubai
- United Arab Emirates