Falling Petals, Standing Roses
Artist: Saba Farhoudnia
March 9–May 25, 2024
Saba Farhoudnia, Falling Petals, Standing Roses (part), 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 46 x 54 inches ©Saba Farhoudnia, courtesy of Fou Gallery
(New York—March 9, 2024) Fou Gallery is delighted to introduce “Falling Petals, Standing Roses,” a solo exhibition of Saba Farhoudnia’s most recent artworks this spring. Originating from Tehran and now flourishing in New York, Farhoudnia’s life journey mirrors the expansive scope and profound depth of her paintings. Amidst a world teeming with complexity, her art offers a sanctuary where the nuances of the human condition—its drama, its beauty, its challenges, and its humor—are explored and embraced.
Farhoudnia’s artistic process is a testament to her unique ability to blend disciplines, harmonizing drawing, painting, language, and verse into a cohesive visual language. Her technique is characterized by a rich tapestry of brushstrokes, geometric forms, calligraphy, and gestural marks. This meticulous approach not only brings her subjects to life but also imbues her canvases with a dynamic energy that captures the viewer’s imagination. Each piece serves as a portal into Farhoudnia’s contemplation on humanity’s precarious existence, navigating through an unstable present toward an indeterminate future.
The artist's engagement with themes such as climate change, feminism, and the reverence for nature is profound. She artfully employs both animal and human figures to probe into these subjects, using her canvas as a space for inquiry and reflection. Farhoudnia’s distinctive painting techniques—ranging from the delicate art of pouring to the intentional use of washing and nuanced brushwork—create a vivid sense of motion and emotion. These methods do not merely showcase her skill; they enhance the depth and complexity of her thematic exploration, inviting the audience into a deeper engagement with her work.
Farhoudnia’s philosophy, encapsulated in her poignant statement, “With each fallen petal, another rose will bloom. This is our battlefield. This is our Eden.,” reveals the dual nature of her artistic vision. Through "Falling Petals, Standing Roses," she navigates the dualities of existence, crafting a narrative that oscillates between conflict and tranquility, despair and hope. The exhibition is designed to evoke the liminal space between dreams and reality, where the ephemeral beauty of life is captured in its most vivid form.
Her paintings transcend mere representation; they are a call to dialogue, an invitation to question, and a prompt for empathy. Through her art, Farhoudnia communicates a message of resilience, reflecting the spectrum of human experience from triumphs to trials. Delving deeper into Farhoudnia’s painting techniques reveals a meticulous layering process, where colors blend and textures intersect to form intricate visual narratives. Her adept use of light and shadow, combined with the strategic placement of forms, creates a depth that draws the viewer into each scene. The attention to detail in every brushstroke and the thoughtful composition of elements underscore Farhoudnia’s dedication to her craft and her message.
“Falling Petals, Standing Roses” celebrates the power of art to articulate profound truths, to illuminate the overlooked, and to honor the indomitable spirit that defines humanity. Experiencing the enchanting world of Saba Farhoudnia, the beauty of life’s fleeting moments is forever captured and the dialogue between art and viewer opens new pathways for understanding and connection.
News and Reviews
“Falling Petals, Standing Roses: Saba Farhoudnia crafts visions of urban identity and conflict”, Dovetail Magazine, 2024.5.14. [Link >>]
“Peeling Back the Petals: Saba Farhoudnia’s Exploration of the Human Psyche”, Tussle Magazine, 2024.5.13. [Link >>]
“Meet Saba Farhoudnia”, BoldJourney, 2024.5.10. [Link >>]
“Saba Farhoudnia's Latest Body of Work Takes Over Fou Gallery ", Widewalls, 2024.4.12. [Link >>]
“Art Show | Fou Gallery Presents Falling Petals, Standing Roses, a Solo Show by Artist Saba Farhoudnia”, Litang, 2024.3.12. [Link >>]
Catalogue
Events
Artist
Saba Farhoudnia (b. 1987, Tehran, Iran) Born in Tehran amidst war in 1987, Saba Farhoudnia now lives and works in New York, creating large-scale paintings that delve into the human condition. Her work intertwines drawing, painting, and language, using geometric forms, calligraphy, and expressive marks to evoke emotions like pain and humor. Farhoudnia, who holds two Master's degrees in Fine Arts, explores themes of humanity's precarious existence. She has been recognized by the Bronx Museum of the Arts and the Queens Arts Fund, and has exhibited her paintings internationally. Her work, featured in various art publications, encapsulates the beauty and drama of human experience.
Curator
Lynn Hai currently serves as a partner and the Artistic Director at Fou Gallery. She is responsible for leading and designing the artistic and visual style of Fou Gallery, as well as curating exhibitions for artists represented. Her selected curatorial and design experiences include: the group exhibition “Interest in Humanity—Portraits of Yesterday and Today”, spanning 80 years of modern and contemporary portrait art (Fou Gallery, New York, 2023); Highlights of November on PLATFORM, an online art platform by David Zwirner Gallery (New York, 2022); “Together In Distance”, an online benefit art auction for COVID-19 relief (New York, 2020); “Dwelling At the Present”, an Interior Design Exhibition and Forum (Harvard Club, New York, 2019); “Flow Fields - Dilution” at the 2013 Lisbon Triennale (Sinel de Cordes Palace, Lisbon, 2013); among others. She has also been invited to give lectures and participate in panel discussions at academic institutions, including University of London, and Columbia University. Her writings have been published in art periodicals such as ArtChina, CAFA Artinfo, Tussle Magazine, ArtPulse, and others. She graduated from the Architectural Association in London in 2014 and earned her Master's in Design Studies from Harvard University in 2017.
