Sasan Saidi
Sasan is a man intrigued by the darker side of the human mind. His artworks exist in a realm of palpable fear and tension; and yet he takes no sadistic pleasure in them, only a profound contemplation in the possibility of their existence. Although his portfolio includes a variety of formats, his mixed media works are the most intriguing. They combine his work's finest aspects, creating pieces that captivate the mind and invoke the most primal of emotions.
The German-Iranian artist's world is a stark one, created primarily in black and white, the linework swims in heavy layers of crimson. He positions his subjects centrally before slowly building up their surroundings. His figures are always alone, lost within an oppressively dim realm without a companion. A sense of rejection surrounds them, a feeling that they are social outcasts due to some form of deformity.
Several symbols recur throughout Sasan's portfolio of personal work. Two that predominate are masks and insects. The masks reference the medieval Schandmasken (Shameful Masks) that were used to publicly discipline and ridicule those who had committed minor offences. Metal masks in the shape of animal heads were strapped to the head before the offender was forced into public to be mocked by his community. It's no surprise then that they have become such a strong feature in the work of a man who explores the twisted ways in which humans interact with one another. However, his work doesn't enter into the ridicule; instead it pulsates with a powerful feeling of compassion.
Text by One Small Seed Magazine, Jessica Manim
Sasan studied Visual Communication in Belfast, Northern Ireland and worked for numerous ad agencies and publishers in the UK, Germany, South Africa and the UAE.
For more information visit: http://www.sasanpix.com
