An Inadequate Response to Issues
Try again. Fail again. Fail better.
(Samuel Beckett)
In a wander through the studios of artists, one might encounter objects and products that don’t follow a specific purpose, haven’t been shaped by a pre-established roadmap, have deviated from their intended path, or are simply not functional. These creations could be seen as the result of inefficiency and uncertainty.
Sometimes, when faced with these objects in the corners of the artist’s studio, one may ask: what are they, and what purpose did they serve? At first glance, they may appear practical, like a coat hanging on a coat rack. Yet, when wearing the coat, we notice objects—both small and large—pinned to it, adding unnecessary weight. One might find a lamp created from discarded paper wrapped around a bulb, which, due to direct contact with the heat, ends up burning. These products are often created out of the artist’s personal need, and within this process, the artist’s trial-and-error is clearly visible. These works present a pure and unmediated experience of the artist’s perspective on life and their surroundings—a perspective that is less visible in their typical artistic endeavors, or one that has been deliberately concealed.
These flaws are not always immediately apparent. An object might seem functional at first glance, but only upon use does its flaw become clear. A flaw that, with a little adjustment, could be improved, though the artist sees no need to do so. It’s not surprising if these imperfections and failures eventually make their way into the artist’s sculpture, painting, or installation, becoming part of a final piece or an artistic project for public display.
These objects primarily serve the artist and their personal space. Sometimes, their creative aspect goes so far that they lose all functionality. At other times, they may be a solution to a non-issue, with no real significance. Occasionally, they may undergo transformation, evolving from what they once were into something entirely different, or they may abandon the path of change, gathering dust in a corner, forgotten and discarded.
What has been gathered here is the result of a journey through the artist’s studio, pulling these works out from beneath the shadows. It is a disruption of the artist’s private space, a disregard for their craftsmanship, a witness to experimental, direct processes, and an exhibition of both visible and invisible errors that seek to approach the artist’s mental space through the cracks of these failures.

Curator: Mahour Toosi
Assistant Curator: Saman Farkhak