Untitled 

Curator: Here we have an untitled bronze sculpture by Bahman Mohasses. Editor: It strikes me immediately as something tormented, even in repose. That upturned head, the stiff limbs – it suggests a struggle. Is it an animal in its death throes, or in some sort of desperate plea? Curator: It's interesting you see that torment. Mohasses often explored themes of isolation and alienation, and that sensibility absolutely connects with the socio-political context of his time. We often consider his subjects stand-ins for a society grappling with difficult realities. Editor: The figure definitely conveys a sense of abandonment, almost like it’s a discarded icon from a broken world. Is it intentional that we see some references to mythological animals? Curator: That’s something frequently examined in Mohasses' oeuvre. There are definite nods toward classical figuration – echoes of minotaurs, perhaps – which speaks to the psychological weight of history and the artist’s commentary on myth. Look at how simplified, yet expressive, the form is. Even the rough texture contributes to a feeling of raw emotion. Editor: Right, the deliberate rawness… almost brutal, one might say. It lacks the refined finish we often see in traditional bronze work. That’s a conscious choice, it seems. Curator: Absolutely. Mohasses wasn’t interested in classical idealism. His focus was on the internal state, and using material and form to make tangible something usually hidden. The bronze is both permanent and weighty. It embodies the burden the figure carries. It suggests lasting damage. Editor: Thinking about it that way, I suppose "tormented" only scratches the surface. It feels more like existential dread solidified in metal. Knowing the turbulence in the art world and in Iranian history, it's impossible to ignore the profound anxiety. Curator: Indeed, a persistent reflection in much of his art, particularly given the scarcity of his surviving works after so much was lost and destroyed. Perhaps the rawness isn’t only a deliberate stylistic choice, but a document of a world where such finesse couldn’t survive. Editor: Well, this has certainly shifted my perspective. I started with immediate impressions and now I see so much more. A remarkable piece that clearly invites layered readings. Curator: It does indeed, underscoring how visual symbols accumulate deeper significance.