Catherine Benny, Shahrzad Ghaffari and Homeira Mortazavi share the space at The Gallery at Victoria Hall
February 3 to 27, 2016
The Gallery at Victoria Hall is pleased to bring together three artists who share a passion for the floral world and have transformed that passion into art. Catherine Benny, Shahrzad Ghaffari and Homeira Mortazavi all explore the floral theme from unique perspectives. But whether from close up or afar, the images of isolated flowers beginning to bud or fields of impressionistic swaths of colour, rekindle our delight in this eternal theme. While flowers have served metaphorically throughout the history of art as symbols of life and plenitude, these works remind us of the sheer fact of their physical beauty and the emotional response they evoke. The exhibition runs from February 4th to February 27th ; the vernissage takes place Wednesday, February 3rd at 6 p.m. As well, the public is invited to An Artist and Curator Exchange on Tuesday, February 23rd at 7 p.m.
As a painter, Homeira Mortazavi`s central focus is on women and flowers, in particular the rose; the two themes are often symbolically juxtaposed in a surreal fashion. Several of the large format oil paintings featured here offer exquisitely rendered intimate views of roses, grouped such that a rhythmic pattern of tonal pinks, corals or the softest blues, keeps our eye moving across the canvas surface. Three of the works bring together figure and flower, as, for instance, `”In Peace’ where the female figure turns away from the viewer to gaze at the looming image of the open rose as if greeting a friend or acknowledging a communicating presence. Mortazavi`s technical skill is repeatedly evident in the handling of both human and natural forms as she celebrates the beauty of both. Mortazavi has enjoyed both solo and group exhibitions in Montreal, Quebec and in the United States.
