site.btaIranian Artist Laleh Barzegar to Exhibit at Seryakova House Gallery in Troyan

An exhibition of paintings by Iranian artist Laleh Barzegar has been arranged in the Seryakova House Gallery in Troyan (Central Bulgaria).

This is Barzegar’s fourth solo exhibition. Apart from Bulgaria, she has displayed her art in Iran, the US, and Germany, where she has been living since she was 13.

In Troyan, the Iranian artist is showcasing 23 abstract paintings. Her artworks focus mainly on form and composition, allowing freedom of interpretation. That is why the exhibition is mottoed "Repetition in Form", Barzegar told BTA.

Barzegar's paintings often depict the repetition of horizontal lines in saturated colours - blue, grey, red, white, and black - which the artist says can represent more than one theme.

She said that two things strongly influence her paintings: her work as a filmmaker and her attitude towards events in her home country over the past two years.

A silhouette of a woman stretching or spreading her arms can often be seen behind the repetition of horizontal lines, which is a visual expression of support for the freedom struggle of Iranian women.

"Women in my country are putting up great resistance against oppressive rules, fighting for freedom. I wanted to use a very minimalist approach in order to portray their efforts and courage in my paintings," Barzegar said.

The Iranian artist’s relationship with Bulgaria began with a screening of her film Domino (2019) at the Menar Festival in Sofia. She was later invited to exhibit her paintings in the Troyan gallery by Bulgarian-based Iranian poet and writer Nabi Masoumi and the chairperson of the Guild of Troyan Masters, Nadezhda Hristova. The exhibition will be on display until September 8.