Azadeh Nia’s solo exhibition, A Silent Volcano, at Fridman Gallery
Fridman Gallery presents Azadeh Nia’s debut solo exhibition, A Silent Volcano, a profound exploration of time and existence rendered through 14 intimate yet monumental paintings. These works, though modest in size, transcend their dimensions to create immersive, cinematic experiences. Each painting serves as a portal into a nonlinear conception of time, inviting viewers to engage in deliberate, meditative observation.
Azadeh Nia’s dreamscapes fuse metaphors and symbols to portray a coexistence of temporal and natural dichotomies: the distant past alongside a dystopian future, untouched landscapes entwined with archaeological remnants. Her visual language speaks to themes of separation, solitude, and despair through recurring imagery such as solitary trees, moonlit skies, and desolate abodes. Yet, these same compositions harbor latent possibilities for hope and renewal, represented by blooming flowers, boundless skies, flowing waters, and infinite paths. This duality fosters a profound tension between isolation and connection, despair and resilience.
Through her use of perspective, Azadeh Nia situates viewers in a liminal space, oscillating between the indoors and outdoors, between the twilight of civilization’s dusk and the dawn of its renewal. Fragmented elements of constructed environments—isolated corners, partially obscured doorways, and abandoned fountains—become spaces for concealment and reflection, offering an intimate vantage point that paradoxically leaves one exposed. The first-person perspective heightens this interplay, drawing the observer into a direct and vulnerable relationship with the work.
Central to the exhibition is the recurring metaphor of the mountain, a figure of serenity masking immense geological forces and the potential for explosive transformation. It embodies endurance and resistance, raising questions about humanity’s capacity to withstand the relentless forces of time and environmental upheaval. The mountain becomes a silent witness to both the transience of life and the enduring strength required to navigate its changes.
Azadeh Nia, born in Tehran, Iran, in 1988, brings her personal and cultural history into dialogue with universal concerns. Her academic journey includes an MFA from the University of the Arts London in 2014, and her artistic career gained new momentum following her relocation to the United States in 2016. Currently a resident at Silver Art Projects in New York City, Nia continues to push the boundaries of her practice, blending personal introspection with broader existential questions.
Fridman Gallery: https://fridmangallery.com/
