Project Description

Born in Iran and living in Rome since 1953, painter and sculptor Bahman
Mohassess began making what he describes as «assemblages» after being diagnosed with lung cancer and unable to work with chemicals. He began culling images from newspapers and magazines, instinctively juxtaposing them. As noted by artist Rokni Haerizadeh, for whom the figure of Mohassess has been an inspiration:
«Through them we enter into bourgeois interiors; semi-stylish, warm and cozy
environments with good lighting, where a beast dies in life, a man lives in death and
the darling beast of our existence pops out.» Of the assemblages, Mohassess said:
«I find something on the page, which takes me away and guides me. It’s not like I
plan to create an idea or search for anything in particular when flipping through
a magazine. I take the first step. Feel it. Will it work? If it works, I proceed. If it
doesn’t, I move on. It should not be a struggle.

Collection of Leyla Azmoun and Rooja Tan

2011