photos © 2022, Pegah Vaez
Freedom is the driving force behind Ali Akbar Safaian's art. For him, art means transcending the boundaries of the material and social world and venturing into spiritual realms beyond social, logical and material constraints. He sees this artistic freedom not only as a creative act, but also as a resistance to authoritarian systems that seek to curtail this very freedom.
Safaian began studying painting and sculpture at the Kamal ol-Molk Art School in Tehran. After graduating in 1970, Safaian worked as a sculptor and painter in Tehran and established himself in the city's art scene. He worked closely with the Seyhoun, Solivan and Mehr Shah galleries.
Early on, he developed a surreal, fantastical imagery influenced by the mystical philosophies of Persian poetry. His visual language broke with traditional compositional patterns and established him as a major figure in the 'Iranian Modernism' movement. The spiritual quest of his late father, a dervish who took the name "Safaian" (purity and joy), left a deep impression on Ali Akbar Safaian and shaped his own path. His works blur the boundaries between man and nature, as well as ethnic, political and gender categories, seeking a freedom beyond ideologies, social conventions and religious constraints.
This artistic freedom did not come without risk. As an artist, Safaian repeatedly faced repression under two dictatorships. During the Shah's regime in the 1970s, he was active in Tehran's art and literary scene and campaigned for political freedoms. After the 1979 revolution, he joined the resistance until he was forced into exile in 1986. In exile in Germany, he developed his artistic expression: the yearning for freedom, previously expressed through figurative means, now manifested in organic forms and the infinite line, as a testament to his unwavering belief in artistic and human freedom.
Selected Exhibitions and Prizes
2025, "Ewig flüchtige Gegenwart", Galerie Mommsen 35, Berlin (Vernissage: 26. April)
2023 "Erbe", Galerie F37, Berlin
2021 "Fantastische Welten", Galerie Mommsen 35, Berlin
2016 "ICONS 2003", Galerie Mommsen 35, Berlin
2016 "Der Klang vom Gang des Wassers", KunstbüroBerlin (reading and exhibition, with Kurt Scharf)
2014 "Erderbe", Atelier Sibylle Wagner, Berlin
2008 Cultural Award of the city Bayreuth, Germany (Kulturpreis der Stadt Bayreuth, Hauptpreis)
2007 "Research Exhibition on Iranian Contemporary Arts/1960-70s"
Saba Cultural and Artistic Museum - Teheran, Iran (without the artist's consent)
1999 Kunsthaus Nuremberg, Germany
1996 The 9th International Exhibition of Enamelling Art in Tokyo, Japan
1994 AAI-Gallery – Vienna, Austria
1993 British American Tobacco Casino Gallery – Germany
1992 The Boston Consulting Group – Munich, Germany
1992 "Goldene Palette" – Art Award of the "Kunstmarkt"-magazine
1991 Prize with realisation in a competition by the University of Wuerzburg, Germany
1991 Gallery Eurocadre St-Junien – Limoges, France
1991 Gallery Les Carmes – Langon, France
1991 Gallery Francis Layoute – Limoges, France
1990 Steingräber und Söhne – Bayreuth, Germany
1988 Gallery La Palette D´Ór – Rouen, France
1985 Fahangsarai Niawaran „In Memory of Fanizadeh“ – Teheran, Iran
1978 Entesharati Agha – Teheran, Iran
1978 Gallery Sheikh „Five Modern Artist“ – Teheran, Iran
1977 Gallery Sheikh – Teheran, Iran
1975 Gallery Ghandriz – Teheran, Iran
1975 Gallery Ghandriz – Teheran, Iran
1975 Gallery Mehr Shah – Teheran, Iran
1974 Gallery Takht Jamshid „Surrealist Artists“ – Teheran, Iran
1974 Gallery Khaneh Aftab „Painting and Sculpting“ – Teheran, Iran
1974 Gallery Seyhoun „Modern Art“ – Teheran, Iran
1974 International Art Exhibition of Unesco-members – Cannes, France
1974 Gallery Takht Jamshid – Teheran, Iran
1974 Première exposition internationale des arts de Téhéran – Teheran, Iran
1974 Gallery Seyhoun – Teheran, Iran
1974 An aspect of Iranian Contemporary Art, sponsored by Seyhoun Gallery
in cooperation with Gallery Ghandriz – Teheran, Iran
1974 Asian Art on the occasion of the 7th Asian Games – Teheran, Iran
1973 Seyhoun Gallery – Teheran, Iran
1972 Gallery Solivan – Teheran, Iran
1972 Gallery Mess – Teheran, Iran
1972 Gallery Khaneh Aftab – Teheran, Iran
1971 Gallery Khaneh Aftab – Teheran, Iran
1969 Archaeological Museum of Iran – Teheran, Iran