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Vahid Danaiefar
Ali Esmaeilipour
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Opera Gallery is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition of a rich collection of works
by two renowned artists from the Middle East: Vahid Danaiefar and Ali Esmaeilipour.
Opera Gallery has explored these unique styles and reveals them to the public via a
comprehensive retrospective of two major contemporary artists. Vahid Danaiefar and Ali
Esmailipour are Iranian artists who have much in common. They both play an important
role on the Iranian contemporary art market, one thanks to his absurd visual mix of what
is real and what is not; the other thanks to his blatant truthfulness regarding reality and
his awareness of the simple things of life. This event deserves our utmost attention for the
significant place both artists occupy on the Middle Eastern art market.
Vahid Danaiefar is an artist who fully understands technology’s role in our daily life.
For instance, television is a media that aims at entertaining people. He refers to his art
as television programs (TV Screen Series, 2010) and tries to represent an event or his
perception of a particular aspect of life. To Danaiefar, art is simply a precursor form of
television but the artist tries to combine the two. Both have the same goal of interacting
with the spectator and visually entertaining the viewer through an image intentionally
chosen by Vahid Danaiefar to implicitly express a specific idea. He also likes to combine
reality and his imagination; his distinct painting style illustrates his rather absurd view of
the cosmos.
As for Ali Esmaeilipour: “He is one of the few painters of our time whom I can see reaching
for meaningful creativity without mockery, pretensions or personal preoccupations”
(Professor Aidin Aghdashlou, 1992, Zangar Art college). Ali Esmaeilipour is the perfect
academic student in terms of style, an artist who remains faithful to his surroundings.
Esmaeilipour is mainly inspired by day-to-day life; his technique revolves around realism.
Many scenes depicted in his artworks refer to his childhood memories, especially from
homelife (an opened or closed window or door; the sun shining into a room). According to
the artist, these still life objects actually define the person and things that spell “home”,
“life” and even “love”; in the artist’s own words, they “are part of the simple beauty of
everyday life that surrounds us. The simplest things actually mean the most to people”.
His memories will yet again be cherished and immortalized on his wooden canvas. This
is his true perception of art and we, art connoisseurs the world over, embrace him for it.
Iranian art is again distinguished by two newcomers to the international art scene; we
hope you will take this opportunity to discover these immense talents and look forward to
welcoming you to Opera Gallery.
Enjoy the show!
Gilles Dyan
Founder and Chairman
Opera Gallery Group
Ahmad Bachan
Manager
Opera Gallery Dubai
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Vahid Danaiefar
Born in 1983 in Tehran (Iran), Vahid Danaiefar obtained a degree in art from Azad University. Since 2002, the
artist has completed one solo exhibition and ten group exhibitions in Iran. Reality and the artist’s imagination
as a young Middle Eastern painter come together in Danaiefar’s unique style. Everyday confrontations with
people and things result in a societal mix that influences his larger than life paintings on canvas. His distinct
painting style illustrates the artist’s rather absurd vision of the cosmos.
Solo exhibition:
2003
Zarrabi Gallery, Tehran
Group exhibitions:
2002
Iranian Contemporary Drawing, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2003
Bahman Gallery, Tehran
Iranian Contemporary Drawing, Barg Gallery, Tehran
2004
Barg Gallery, Tehran
2005
Iranian Contemporary Drawing, Karaj
2006
Laleh Gallery, Tehran
2007
Selection of Painters’ New Generation, Homa Gallery, Tehran Azad Art Gallery, Tehran
2008
Sooreh University, Tehran
Selection of Tehran’s Galleries, Saba Gallery, Tehran
2010
Opera Gallery, Dubai
And the wind blew through its hair, 2011
Mixed media on canvas
120 x 180 cm – 47.2 x 70.9 in.
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Two thumbs up, 2010
Occult penalty, 2011
Mixed media on canvas
240 x 180 cm – 94.5 x 70.9 in.
Mixed media on canvas
180 x 240 cm – 70.9 x 94.5 in.
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My intercession will never reach them (3), 2011
Mixed media on canvas
Diptych: 180 x 240 cm – 70.9 x 94.5 in.
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Tv screen series, 2010
Oil on canvas
50 x 60 cm – 19.7 x 23.6 in.
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Tv screen series, 2010
Oil on canvas
50 x 60 cm – 19.7 x 23.6 in.
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Tv screen series, 2010
Oil on canvas
50 x 60 cm – 19.7 x 23.6 in.
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Tv screen series, 2010
Oil on canvas
50 x 60 cm – 19.7 x 23.6 in.
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Tv screen series, 2010
Oil on canvas
50 x 60 cm – 19.7 x 23.6 in.
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Ali Esmaeilipour
Ali Esmaeilipour, considered one of the most famous contemporary painters from Iran today, was born on
March 21, 1962 in Khomein (Iran). Between 1988 and 1991 he assiduously studied painting at Zangar, a reputed
private art college.
Shortly thereafter, in 1992, Esmaeilipour managed to organize his very first of four successful solo exhibitions
featuring works in oil, acrylic and watercolour, in addition to his participation in more than 40 group exhibitions
in Iran from 1991 to 1998.
Esmaeilipour’s paintings are mainly inspired by the ordinary objects of day-to-day life, with many scenes
depicting life at home: recurring symbols such as an opened or closed door, the sun streaming through a
window or shadows in a bedroom bouncing off of personal belongings strewn on a table. According to him,
“these are the things that make up everyday life. The things that spell “home”, “life” and “love”, for such are
part of the simple beauty of everyday life that surrounds us. I come from a simple background and it’s the
simple things in life that mean the most to a person ultimately”.
Esmaeilipour moved to Singapore in 1998 where he now lives with his family.
Solo exhibitions:
1991
Seyhoon Gallery, Tehran
1993
Seyhoon Gallery, Tehran
1995
One huge painting commissioned by Iran’s Ministry of Olympics
1996
Seyhoon Gallery, Tehran
Four paintings commissioned by Iran’s Museum of Heritage & Culture
1997
Received Honorary Diploma of Art from Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture
1998
One painting featured in the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art magazine
Group exhibitions:
1991 – 1998
More than 40 group exhibitions in Iran
1991
1st Biennial Exhibition of Iranian Painting, Tehran
1993
2nd Biennial Exhibition of Iranian Painting, Tehran
1995
3rd Biennial Exhibition of Iranian Painting, Tehran
1997
4th Biennial Exhibition of Iranian Painting, Tehran
Received Best Artist Award at the 4th Biennial Exhibition
1998
“Nokia Singapore Art” at Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
2000
“Trompe l’Œil” Exhibition, Opera Gallery, Singapore
2003
“William Falkner Show”, Bryant Gallery, New Orleans
2009
“Summer of Love”, Opera Gallery, Singapore
Something still alive
Acrylic on linen and wood with goldleaf
64 x 90 cm – 25.2 x 35.4 in.
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It’s not about you
Acrylic on linen and wood with goldleaf
120 x 115 cm – 47.2 x 45.3 in.
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Holding on for dear life
Acrylic on cotton and wood with goldleaf
90 x 133 cm – 35.4 x 52.4 in.
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Relax, peace and fly
Acrylic on linen and wood with goldleaf
104 x 125 cm – 40.9 x 49.2 in.
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Crossword #1
Acrylic on cotton and wood with goldleaf
123 x 107 cm – 48.4 x 42.1 in.
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Have a mooncake
Acrylic on linen and wood with goldleaf
111 x 105 cm – 43.7 x 41.3 in.
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Lace, light and glass boat
Acrylic on cotton and wood with goldleaf
83 x 103 cm – 32.7 x 40.5 in.
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A quiet celebration with Gustav Klimt
Acrylic on linen and wood with goldleaf
107 x 125 cm – 42.1 x 49.2 in.
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Newspaper and orchids
Acrylic on linen and wood with goldleaf
120 x 102 cm – 47.2 x 40.2 in.
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Floating objects
Acrylic on linen and wood with goldleaf
110 x 115 cm – 43.3 x 45.3 in.
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