Untitled 1993

Editor: This oil painting from 1993 is simply titled "Untitled," by Mostafa Dashti. The dark palette is pretty overwhelming, but there is a glowing horizontal band across the center that hints at some sort of… horizon? What do you see in this piece? Curator: Indeed. Notice how the composition employs a stark contrast between the predominantly dark, almost monolithic, upper section and that fiery horizon line. The application of oil paint is incredibly expressive, verging on impasto in areas, contributing to the textural complexity of the piece. The artist has created a push and pull with the eye by using broad sweeping strokes. Editor: Push and pull, how so? Curator: Observe the vertical strokes above which seem to suggest upward motion. They collide with the fiery oranges below, creating visual tension, but ultimately unifying the upper and lower sections of the work. Do you notice other elements contributing to that sense of visual unity? Editor: Well, I see these very thin wisps of lighter paint streaking down from the upper portion of the painting, like reflections or light glancing off the surface of something dark. The streaks mirror the darker marks below the horizon line. They tie it all together, like a mirror! Curator: Precisely. These are elements which tie both halves together in what is a stunning essay of texture. What is clear is Dashti’s manipulation of paint, form, and contrast and his ability to unify this work by both echoing forms from top to bottom as well as pushing the tension between light and dark to its fullest effect. Editor: Thanks for this, it's great to have these things pointed out. Now I feel like I actually appreciate the balance between the darkness and the bursts of fiery light. Curator: Indeed. Form triumphs!