Farnood Esbati's First European Solo Show at Galerie Christian Berst Art Brut

Galerie Christian Berst art brut in Paris presents 'Lignes de vie', the first European solo exhibition of Iranian artist Farnood Esbati (b. 1993), running until March 30, 2024. The show coincides with the opening of Drawing Now Paris. Esbati's ink-on-paper drawings feature intricate networks of lines—hatching, cross-hatching, grids—that create a surprising depth on the two-dimensional surface. His subjects are universal scenes of daily life: figures seated at meals or tea ceremonies, interiors with bookshelves and rugs, religious buildings, grazing animals, resting men. The artist's graphic style is noted for technical mastery and emotional vibration. Rather than separating, his lines assemble, interlock, and fuse. One drawing subtly depicts a human chain of small figures holding hands, forming an unbreakable link. Esbati's bodies are schematic, geometric blocks, capturing humanity in its primordial ambivalence—robust yet fragile. His obsession with assembly contrasts with a trembling, dynamic movement. The work eschews Cartesian perspective for a phenomenological, sensory, intuitive vision. Esbati belongs to the art brut tradition, creating without concern for an external audience, yet his pursuit of beauty and harmony within chaos aligns with the original meaning of 'artist.' The exhibition includes works circa 2020 and 2023, courtesy of the artist and gallery.