Cosmoscow
Art Fair
October 25 – 27 2024
آرت فیر کازموسکو
4 تا 6 آبان 1403
Cosmoscow is the largest and only global art event in Russia, having launched in 2010. To date, the art fair has hosted over 550 galleries, with many prominent works from the international Russian art market unveiled for the first time at the event. Cosmoscow also serves as the largest annual gathering for collectors and galleries in Russia, welcoming participants from over 120 countries across its various editions.
This year, Baashgaah Gallery is participating with an exhibition titled “Remaining Moments,” showcasing works from notable artists such as Fereydoun Ave, Paridokht Mashkzad, Golnaz Fathi, Mehdi Rahemi, Alireza Javadi, Morteza Yazdani, Omid Hallaj, Leila Vismeh, Mehdi Ahmadi, and Ardeshir Mohassess.
“Remaining Moments” reflects on the resilience of the human spirit in a transient world. What unites the artists in this exhibition is the similarity in their works, particularly in their use of subjects in the moments and thoughts of the contemporary era. The artist, with an expressive stance, navigates this path by presenting visual elements that go beyond verbal explanations. They confront the audience with a moment, one that can be a tangible common ground for all human beings.
Ardeshir Mohases | Fereydoun Ave | Alireza Javadi | Golnaz Fathi | Paridokht Moshkzad | Omid Hallaj |Mehdi Ahmadi | Morteza Yazdani | Leyla Vismeh
اردشیر محصص | فریدون آو | علیرضا جوادی | گلناز فتحی | پریدوخت مشکزاد | امید حلاج | مهدی احمدی | مرتضی یزدانی | لیلا ویسمه
Fereydoun Ave
Fereydoun Ave, a multidisciplinary artist, studied applied arts at Arizona State University and film aesthetics at New York University. He has worked across various fields, including filmmaking, stage design, painting, photography, sculpture, and collage. Ave contributed to graphic and set design for the Iranian-American Association, Tehran’s City Theater, and the Shiraz Art Festival. He managed galleries in Tehran and Washington, later founding additional galleries in Tehran and Dubai. His work has been exhibited in major cities like Paris, London, and Tehran, and has appeared in prestigious international auctions.
Ave’s art explores themes like mythology, nature, and heritage, blending elements of Iranian art with Western minimalism.
In his “Div” sculpture series, he uses an expressive approach to revisit a familiar archetype from Iranian mythology, merging ancient beliefs with modern expression. The “White Div,” a key figure in the Shahnameh, ruled over demons during King Kay Kavus’s reign, and was defeated by Rostam in a famous battle. In Ave’s work, this humanoid demon is portrayed symbolically, representing a terrifying reflection of the current state of humanity in a three-dimensional form.
Drawing on objects from ancient Iranian history, the sculptures are crafted with a contemporary touch, creating moments of suspension and evoking a meaning that transcends earthly space.
Golnaz Fathi
Golnaz Fathi has exhibited internationally in cities like London, New York, Tehran, Paris, and Toronto, as well as at major art fairs in Mexico City and Chicago. An avant-garde figure in modern Persian calligraphy, Fathi is known for transforming traditional calligraphy into abstract art, blending script with visual self-expression. Over the past decade, her work has shifted from calligraphic forms to dynamic, universal elements that merge action painting with the tools of writing.
In her present work, Fathi uses a smart and uniform background, employing black brushstrokes to create broad, spontaneous forms across the canvas. These fluid lines are interrupted by a central red spot, bringing the composition to completion. The piece showcases dynamic movement and a deep understanding of the interplay between lines and space. Blending Iranian and East Asian calligraphic aesthetics, her art reflects a personal, contemporary method of “painting with a script,” allowing her to transcend traditional boundaries. This bold and spontaneous approach transforms the forms of letters into abstract expressions that mesmerize the viewer with their unexpected beauty.
Morteza Yazdani
Morteza Yazdani, a contemporary Iranian painter born in Isfahan in 1980, graduated with a Master’s degree in Painting from the University of Tehran. He began his professional career during his student years by participating in group exhibitions and later held solo exhibitions, ultimately developing a unique style.
Yazdani’s works reflect his active personality, emphasizing the importance of repetition, continuous sketching, and daily practice on the canvas. This collection focuses on the bodies of figures, including horses, Persian greyhounds, and bulls. His interest in anatomical drawings by Iranian scientists inspired his approach, as he sought to evoke a scientific essence in the depiction of horses, although not aiming for scientific precision.
Additionally, Yazdani expresses a strong fascination with historical and mythological themes. The brown color scheme in his works adds an antique quality, reminiscent of the old scientific documents he studied.
Alireza Javadi
Born in 1986 in Tehran, Alireza Javadi is a painter, printmaker, and member of the Institute of Visual Arts. He began his artistic career in 2004 and has held over 50 group and solo exhibitions in Iran, Canada, and England, showcasing his work in notable galleries like Sarban, Seyhoun, Artibition, and Sales. A prolific artist, he has also conducted numerous workshops across Iran over the past decade.
At first glance, Alireza’s works appear abstract, but this abstraction serves as a vehicle for his expression. He distorts familiar forms to create a new aesthetic as if the coordinates of places reflect his mental world. Alireza Javadi’s art hints at his ongoing concern with the essence of his surroundings.
This collection arose from the idea that life follows a path like an algorithm, which can evolve through personal experiences. The “Dormitory Project” developed over the past three years, reshaping initial algorithms into new forms. It reflects the intersection of media, technology, and personal experience from 2019 to 2022.
Leila Vismeh
Leila Vismeh, born in 1979 in Arak, Iran, graduated with a degree in painting from Tehran University of Arts. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions both in Iran and internationally, earning several awards for her work. Vismeh has also held solo exhibitions, showcasing collections such as her “Hunting” series and “There is No End to This Winter.”
Vismeh’s paintings are thought-provoking and emotional; they invite the viewer to reflect upon their very creation, and not just their content. In this collection, she explores the female form, blending analysis with emotion through bold, expressive gestures. In doing so, her art unites contradictions—creating harmony through division. Her figures come to life, both within the painting and through the energy they project, independent of the viewer.
Omid Hallaj
Omid Hallaj, born in 1980, holds a bachelor’s degree in painting and began his artistic career with a solo exhibition. He has since participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both in Iran and internationally, including shows in Shanghai and Tehran. Hallaj’s work explores a blend of traditional and modern themes, showcasing his evolving artistic vision and earning him recognition both locally and abroad.
Omid Hallaj’s paintings depict a surreal, timeless universe where lotuses and humans coexist in a limbo between agony and ecstasy. Drawing on mythological themes like spiritual journeys and rebirth, his work portrays a world that blends nature and metaphysical elements. Hallaj’s strength lies in his ability to explore deep contrasts—delirium vs. consciousness, dream vs. reality—while avoiding clichés. His use of color and symbolism brings a fresh perspective on spirituality, creating a sense of infinity and timelessness. This new series delves into themes of death, rebirth, and hope for the future, inviting viewers to interpret and engage with these complex ideas.
Mehdi Rahemi
Mehdi Rahemi is an accomplished artist recognized for his work in drawing, painting, and printmaking. He studied landscape and still life, along with figurative drawing and printmaking in Tehran. Rahemi held his first solo printmaking exhibition at Iran Artists House and has since participated in various exhibitions, including recent group shows in Tehran and a solo exhibition at Arthibition Gallery. He also has teaching experience in Kashan and has published two books showcasing his artistic collection.
The dominant theme in Rahemi’s work is the human figure, depicted in a painterly and graphic style rather than realistically. His use of dark tones results from layering colors, where darker base layers contrast with lighter top layers, giving his brushstrokes a drawing-like quality. Hands frequently appear in his pieces, symbolizing the whole body or humanity. This approach allows figures to dissolve into their surrounding space. In his solo exhibition “Swamp,” he describes how the figures lose unity, becoming a mass of blotches where brushstrokes converge into limbs or appear monstrous, consuming one another.
Ardeshir Mohases
Ardeshir Mohassess (1938-2008), an Iranian designer, illustrator, and cartoonist, became known for his critical and thought-provoking artwork. His passion for visual arts began in adolescence, and after initially studying law, he shifted his focus to illustration. Mohassess’s distinctive cartoon style gained recognition through his contributions to various Iranian publications, eventually attracting international attention. His works appeared in renowned outlets like the New York Times, and he continued his career abroad, exhibiting globally.
Mohassess was instrumental in starting the modern Iranian caricature movement, using his art to critique social issues, customs, politics, and human behavior. He referred to his work as “humorous designs,” combining seemingly unrelated or contradictory elements to create satirical but often deeply critical and sometimes harsh representations of societal issues. His art, inspired by Ghahve-Khane paintings and Qajar lithographic illustrations, consistently portrayed human concerns through a mix of humor and sharp social commentary.
Paridokht Moshkzad
Born in 1975 in Tehran, Paridokht Moshkzad is an Iranian artist renowned for her sculpture and painting. She holds a B.A. in painting and an M.A. in Art Studies.
Moshkzad has exhibited widely, with numerous solo shows and a focus on themes of time, memory, and the human experience, highlighted in her recent exhibition “Outside of Time.” She has participated in over 40 group exhibitions globally and significant art fairs. Additionally, she has taught sculpture and art history at various institutions since 2003.
According to Paridokht Moshkzad, the works in this collection arise from her personal experiences and pivotal moments in her life, rooted in memories of a happy childhood and her confrontations with it. The exhibited collection also engages the audience with concepts that extend beyond the artist’s personal concerns.
“When we experience pain and sorrow, we are acutely aware of how difficult and unbearable it is. However, good moments only find their true meaning after a significant amount of time has passed and they have become memories. While it is always pleasant to recall those moments, the regret of not fully appreciating their sweetness at the time accompanies this recollection with a sense of deprivation. Despite knowing that these moments are irretrievable, we continue our arduous attempts to recover them.”
Mehdi Ahmadi
Mehdi Ahmadi is a painter and actor born in 1966 in Tehran. Although he is recognized by many as an actor, he prioritizes his identity as a painter. Ahmadi emphasizes that he does not exchange painting for anything else, always attaching greater importance to it.
He studied architecture for two years at the Tehran University of Science and Technology before switching to graphic arts, ultimately earning a bachelor’s degree from Tehran University of Art.
Ahmadi has participated in over 50 domestic and international exhibitions, including the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art biennial in his early years and an illustration biennale in Portugal.
His paintings reveal a strong influence of traditional Iranian art. The depiction of the female figure showcases oriental characteristics, blending a modern aesthetic with a timeless quality. The overall atmosphere of his work is deeply connected to oriental motifs.
