Mohsen Sadeghian (1969–2024): Painter, Sculptor, and Art Educator.
Mohsen Sadeghian is one of those artists who navigated the strange and turbulent world of the 1980s. He left behind a family living in a different sphere, experienced art university in the 1990s, and there found teachers, friends, and companions who altered the course of his life. Mohsen is a fascinating example of an artist with a distinctly unique and personal approach to his work.

At one point, he spent much of his time creating “boxes.” These boxes possess a mysterious, coded quality, offering a view into a world where deciphering contents, relationships, and meanings is not straightforward. His boxes can be considered a prelude to his later work in the art of recycling. By the late 2000s, his works took on a report-like character, focusing on political events and delivering clear critiques of the social conditions of his time.

Sadeghian's temperament led him to devote many years to teaching art. His unique vision of the artist's character, combined with steady, quiet dedication, allowed him to distance himself from mainstream currents, to work quietly, pursue his personal interests, and remain focused on his own preferences.

Life and work in two studios in Lavasan and Jajrud inspired Sadeghian’s later creations, which he called “Mountains.” These are singular, monumental, and thought-provoking sculptures, all made from recycled materials. The mountains embody a period when Sadeghian immersed himself in the natural environment of the central Alborz region. His daily life and regular journeys through the mountainous roads of this area left a profound impact on his work.

The relationship between humans and mountains is ancient and multi-dimensional. In most cultures, mountains are sacred places, sites where earth and sky meet, and homes to gods. In myth and legend, mountains are the source of the first waters, the mothers of fertility, and people venture into mountains in search of gods, solitude, or immortality. The ascent to mountains symbolizes a journey to higher realms, to the sublime and the infinite. For this reason, mountains embody an image of eternity, stability, and endurance.

Mountains are a vital part of the biosphere, playing a central role in providing freshwater and preserving ecosystems that enhance the quality of life for millions of people. Yet, in environmental matters, mountains receive less attention than oceans and forests. That Sadeghian, in his later work, focused on these life-sustaining regions and engaged in a dialogue with these remarkable natural phenomena reflects his environmental concerns.

The mountains reflect humanity’s yearning for freedom and a life in nature. Mohsen Sadeghian's mountains are visual expressions of resilience—and perhaps defiance—in the face of the rapid, overwhelming changes of the modern world. From another perspective, they propose an alternative path for today’s human journey, one that involves standing still, reflecting on environmental crises, and contemplating the future of our planet.

Roozbeh Amin
Lajevardi Foundation
November 2024