Mir Abdolreza Daryabeigi

Mir Abdolreza Daryabigi, born in 1930 (1309 SH) and a graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran, was among the most prominent Iranian artists associated with conceptual art. He left Iran at an early stage of his career and, as a result, achieved recognition much later than most of his contemporaries, largely after his death. Daryabigi learned painting from Marco Grigorian and later joined the Free Group of Painters and Sculptors, in whose founding Grigorian played a central role. The members of this group presented their works in four exhibitions titled Abi (Blue) and Ganj va Gostareh (Treasure and Expanse), and participated in international events such as Art Basel in Switzerland and Wash Art in the United States. The group’s members were largely inclined toward conceptual art. Daryabigi’s works were first shown in a group exhibition at the Aesthetic Gallery in 1960 (1339 SH), and in 1963 (1342 SH) he held his first solo exhibition at the Mes Gallery. He also received awards including an Honorary Prize at the Human Rights Exhibition in 1968 (1347 SH). The Landscapes series is considered Daryabigi’s most renowned body of work and has been presented and sold several times at the Tehran Auction. This series depicts blurred landscapes, typically painted in cool colors. In most of these works, the horizon line can be identified, usually positioned in the lower third of the canvas. In one example—like others in this series—the landscape is indistinct, and the nature of the white triangular forms is difficult to discern. Daryabigi presents a hazy vista that, despite its expansive view, conceals everything from the viewer’s gaze. His landscapes, created without the presence of human figures or material objects, adopt a modern tone that evokes abstract horizons.