'Thunder and Lightning' group show, Paris

It would be difficult not to expect a swell of politically challenging creative work to emerge from Iran. But Raad O Bargh, or 'thunder and lightning', a showcase of 16 up-and-coming contemporary Iranian artists at Paris's Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, proves there's far more to Iran than pure politics.

Varhid Sharifian, dubbed 'The Iranian Andy Warhol' for his 'Papaist' (an amalgamation of pop-art and Dadism) works, is showing a series of sculptures, including a parrot sporting a grotesquely over-sized human appendage. His uses of found objects, language play and humour channel the artistic spirits of Duchamp, Magritte and of course Warhol himself.

Other, more personal pieces also play their role in the show with Behrouz Rae's intimate relief paintings - delving into the alter-ego and psyche for inspiration and Ala Behgan's tiny yet captivating drawings.

All 16 of the artists included in Raad O Bargh have something new and fresh to offer. With sculpture, film and performance all given their place, this exhibition is nothing if not proof that the jewel of the gulf is still sparkling.



Ala Dehghan, No. 2 - Life is my Sister, 2008

Ala Dehghan, No.3 - Waterfalls, 2008

Ali Banisadr, The Charlitans, 2009

Behrouz Rae, Mondrian Painting, 2006

Behrouz Rae, Untitled (Bimester series), 2008

Behrouz Rae, Untitled (Bimester series), 2008

Mahmoud Bakhshi Moakhar, The Blood of Our Young Martyrs Turns up into Tulips, 2008

Maryam Amini, Rise Men Rise, 2008

Ramin Haerizadeh, Poison Horns, 2008

Vahid Sharifian, Talk to Me, 2008

Vahid Sharifian, Hurt Stars, 2008

Shirin Aliabadi, Eyes Only 1, 2008

Ramin Haerizadeh, Today's Woman, 2008

INFORMATION

Event dates
19 February 2009 to 27 March 2009

Website
http://www.ropac.net/

Telephone
33. 1 4272 9900
Address
7 Rue Debellyme
75003 Paris
France