Polychromatic

Daniel Raphael Gallery is delighted to present Polychromatic curated by Tima Jam, a group exhibition of five internationally acclaimed artists from Iran, Nigeria, Turkey and Mexico. Each artist explores notions of identity and the self through their own inventive use of colour.

 

The concept of identity and perception of the self is perhaps now more pertinent than ever. Throughout art history, colour has been used in artworks to help create a sense of identity, by conveying intangible concepts such as emotions, dreams and mental states. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Surrealism and seminal psychoanalytic studies, this exhibition aims to engage viewers with the subconscious perceptions of the self through artworks that utilise colour to reveal emotion and expressivity. 

Colour psychology is defined as the “study of hues as a determinant of human behavior”. Artists can intentionally use colours to portray their own emotions, and bring about certain emotions within the viewer. In these circumstances, colour is used to build identity. This exhibition will therefore focus on paintings that, filled with rhythm and colour, take the viewer on a journey into the artists’ perception of the self. The juxtaposition of colours, shapes and brushstrokes all form an aesthetic foundation on which to explore notions of identity – from the perspective of both the artist, and audience.

Iranian painter Salman Khoshroo depicts distorted figures in highly emotional states. Using a knife to apply thick layers of paint, Khoshroo transforms identity into a variable, dismantling our preconceived notions of gender and beauty. Mexican painter Horacio Quiroz celebrates the tension between beauty and the grotesque through his depictions of contorted human figures. At times comically surreal, Quiroz adopts a distinctive approach to conveying movement on canvas, constantly straddling the line between reality and the fantastical.  

The work of Turkish artist Mustafa Horasan investigates issues surrounding capitalism, mass media, and global wealth disparities. Utilising imagery concerned with pop-culture and consumerism, Horasan applies a rich and vivid palette to bodies and creatures with beyond-human characteristics, heightening the intricacies of human existence. Similarly, Iranian artist Milad Mousavi is inspired by the world and society that surrounds him. Fusing artistic mediums such as cinema and animation, Mousavi also approaches the theme of identity by making use of an intense colour palette. 

Fusing bold colours and prints to convey a uniquely West African identity, Nigerian artist Olamide Ogunade Olisco uses the canvas to open discourses around individualism, beauty and race. Ogunade Olisco’s use of charcoal, juxtaposed by the vibrancy of the surrounding colour palette, lends an animated luminosity to the depiction of the human form. Ever-present is a delicate, sympathetic approach to the treatment of his subjects, imbuing them with a graceful elegance that is exceptionally emotive. 

Polychromatic brings together five seemingly disparate artists from across the globe. Yet despite their geographical separation, each artist is connected by their unique methods of exploring identity through meditations on colour. Intangible concepts and emotions are presented through a visual experience that invites the viewer to question their own predetermined perception of identity and the self. 

For further information or high-resolution images, please contact Daniel Levy at daniel@danielraphael.co.uk

About the Gallery

The Daniel Raphael Gallery in London is dedicated to Emerging Contemporary Art. Founded in 2016 by Daniel Levy, the exhibitions aim to be interactive, thought provoking and original. The Gallery acts as a platform for an international range of emerging and mid-career artists to establish themselves in the art world whilst focusing on talent that shows uniqueness and high-quality finish.

 

About the Curator 

Born in Iran, 1980, Tima Jam was brought up in the southern Iranian town of Bushehr. From an early age, Tima developed a passion and interest in the fine arts, beginning her career as a painter before going on to study history of art. Tima founded Blue Rhino Art Consultancy in 2016, launching branches in Turkey, Iran and UK. Being well-aware of the lack of representation for minority ethnic groups in the art world, Blue Rhino was established with the intention of providing homegrown artistic talent with a sense of belonging and inclusion. With 20 years worth of experience as a gallerist, art director, and curator, Tima is continually devoted to discovering both emerging and established global artists, at the heart of which is her own love and passion for the arts. 

 

About the Artists

Mustafa Horasan (b. 1965, Aydin, Turkey) studied Graphic Arts at the Fine Arts Faculty of Marmara University. He has exhibited at prestigious institutions locally and internationally including “Paristanbul” at the Grand Palais, Paris (1990), “Turkish Artists Exhibition” in New York (1995), the Sharjah Biennial, U.A.E. (1999), “Death=Death” at Karsi Sanat, Istanbul (2001) and “Intersecting Times” at the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art (2006). In 2009 he was included in the permanent exhibition “New Works, New Horizons” by Istanbul Modern and “Istanbul Next Wave” exhibition at Martin Gropius Bau in Berlin. His last solo show was “Labyrinth”, held by Pi Artworks (2012). He was represented at Contemporary Istanbul, Scope Basel, Art Dubai and Marrakech Art Fair. Horasan lives and works in Istanbul.

 

Salman Khoshroo (b. 1983, Iran) spent his childhood years in New York. After a few intermittent years in Iran, he went to study in the Australian National University, where he received his degree in Digital Art. Selected solo exhibitions include PROTAGONIST, Azad Art Gallery (2014); Wanderer, Shirin Art Gallery (2016); Action Potential, Aaran Projects Gallery (2018).

 

Milad Mousavi (b. 1987, Tehran, Iran) studied Economics at Allameh Tabataba’i University (Tehran, Iran). He has been painting professionally since 2012. Milad Mousavi’s work has been inspired both by his surrounding world and society, and artistic mediums such as cinema and animation. In his paintings, he uses a variety of materials and techniques such as drawing and color pencils, acrylic and oil paint, and pen. Mousavi recently had his third solo exhibition titled A Moon Shaped Artist, at Dastan’s Basement in Tehran (2020).

Olamide Ogunade Olisco (b. 1996, Ogun State, Nigeria) studied Fine Art at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, Nigeria. He has exhibited in several group exhibitions in Lagos and Ogun state, and his works have been featured in international group exhibitions, including the Afrika First Exhibition in Luxembourg; Stop, Listen group exhibition at CFHILL gallery, Sweden. Ogunade Olisco’s work is in private collections in Burkina Faso, Austria, USA, Germany, France and Sweden. 

Horacio Quiroz (b. Mexico) graduated in Graphic Design from Universidad Iberoamericana. Just 3 years after starting his artistic career, Quiroz exhibited in the XVII Rufino Tamayo Biennial of Painting.  His artistic proposal was in turn exhibited across galleries and art fairs in Mexico, Australia, United States and Europe. His work has been published in blogs and magazines in the United States, Canada, Denmark, UK, Germany, Spain, Chile and Mexico among others. Selected solo exhibitions include: Sneak Peak into Love and Fear, Galería Progreso, México City (2016); Polarities, Booth Gallery, New York City (2018); Disturbingly Lively, Galería Colector, Monterrey NL, México (2020). 

Assistant Curators                                                                                                  

Anastasia Anastasiadou, Louis Chapple, Sebastiana Livia Fanari, Arnis Putnins, Maryam Sajedi