Pooya Abbasian's 'Soli-Sombre' at Lee Ufan Arles
Pooya Abbasian, a Franco-Iranian artist, showcases 'Soli-Sombre' at Atelier MA, Lee Ufan Arles, as part of a residency funded by the Lee Ufan Arles x Guerlain Art & Environnement Prize. This exhibition, which runs until 4 October 2026, was conceived during Les Rencontres d'Arles. Abbasian's art delves into humanity's efforts to dominate nature, the bombing of Iran, and their connections. The title 'Soli-Sombre' suggests a sense of darkness, featuring a film about a farmer eliminating Baccharis that transitions into a fantasy narrative with a voice-over inspired by Joseph d'Arbaud's 1926 novel. Additionally, he presents Japanese knotweed encased in a perspex box and creates still images that are both vibrant and misleading, reflecting on migration and war representation.
Key facts
- Pooya Abbasian is a Franco-Iranian artist.
- The exhibition 'Soli-Sombre' is at Atelier MA, Lee Ufan Arles.
- The residency was supported by the Lee Ufan Arles x Guerlain Art & Environnement Prize.
- The exhibition runs until 4 October 2026.
- The film features a farmer eradicating Baccharis, an invasive plant in the Camargue.
- The film's voice-over references Joseph d'Arbaud's 1926 novel 'La Bête du Vaccarès'.
- Abbasian's still images are made by projecting videos onto light-sensitive surfaces, losing resolution.
- Abbasian previously collaborated with Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami.
- The film includes a radio report of bombing in Iran.
- Abbasian was forced to leave Iran for France ten years ago.
Entities
Artists
- Pooya Abbasian
- Abbas Kiarostami
- Joseph d'Arbaud
- Jafar Panahi
- Lee Ufan
Institutions
- Lee Ufan Arles
- Atelier MA
- Guerlain
- Les Rencontres d'Arles
- 1854 Photography
- Rencontres d'Arles
Locations
- Arles
- France
- Iran
- Camargue
- North America
- Cannes
- Tehran
- Paris
- United States
- European Union