Falling Angels II 1994

Aydin Aghdashloo painted ‘Falling Angels II’ with oil on canvas. The composition presents a stark juxtaposition: a classically rendered, muscular torso is surmounted by a crudely masked head. This figure is further shadowed by a looming, dark silhouette. The head is obscured by what appears to be a paper bag, upon which a fragment of a miniature painting is adhered, depicting a fallen figure clad in a harlequin costume. The torso, painted in the soft, muted tones of the Renaissance, contrasts sharply with the flat shadow and roughly textured head. This suggests a tension between the ideal and the degraded. The use of collage destabilizes the image's surface, undermining traditional notions of painting. The figure is in a state of fragmentation. Aghdashloo thus creates a semiotic puzzle, challenging viewers to reconcile the conflicting signs of strength, decay, and obscured identity.