Untitled 1999

Here's a painting by Mostafa Dashti, made with layers of dark greens and greys. The act of painting feels present here, doesn't it? I mean, you can almost see the artist pushing and pulling the paint around the canvas, figuring things out as they go along. There's a real sense of exploration. I wonder if Dashti was thinking about Rothko, or maybe even Goya, especially with that moody palette. Look at the way the strokes of paint are laid down, thick in some places, thin in others. That one forceful gesture in the middle, slashing across the canvas, it’s like a bolt of energy. It communicates feeling, a sense of urgency or maybe even struggle. Painting is like a conversation between artists across time and space. Each one responds to what came before, adds their voice to the mix, and inspires someone else down the line. It's all about keeping that conversation going.