Material Witnesses Commissions: Afsoon

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Material Witnesses Commissions: Afsoon

Material Witnesses Commissions: Afsoon

Afsoon, Family Portraits series (7 pieces), 2025. Ceramics, glaze on wood stand, dimensions variable. Photo:Nikos Alexopoulos. Courtesy of the artist.

Family Portraits by Afsoon

Family Portraits series commissioned for Material Witnesses at the ACG/Demos Center

The ACG/Demos Center, 17 Ipitou St., Plaka, Athens, 105 57

Monday 14 July- Thursday 31 July | Monday 1 September- Saturday 27 September

Opening Hours: Monday- Friday, 15:00-19:00, Saturday, 12:00-18:00

Curated by Tamara Chalabi

Afsoon (b.1961, Tehran) is an Iranian artist based in London who blends Eastern and Western influences through a diverse multi-disciplinary practice. Her recent exploration with ceramics, including a series named Family Portraits which was commissioned for the Material Witnesses exhibition, transforms the gallery into a space of playful yet poignant storytelling.

Arranged on wooden stands along a shelf, the vibrantly glazed, figuratively sculpted heads evoke the display of artifacts in an archaeological museum. Their smiling expressions exude both humour and melancholy, drawing viewers into an intimate encounter. Each piece feels strangely familiar, as if emerging from the fragmented recollections of childhood tales—whimsical yet weighted with nostalgia.

Installation view of Afsoon works at "Material Witnesses", ACG/The Demos Center. Photo:Nikos Alexopoulos. Courtesy of the artist.

Deeply inspired by fairytales and her own travels, Afsoon’s ceramic work reflects her signature playful yet sophisticated approach, describing them as “vessels not just in a literal sense but as carriers of stories.” The titles of these works particularly denote her interest in folklore and fantasy, such as The Fool and His Devilish Smile.

Afsoon’s works are inspired by the artist Geoffrey Farmer who blends poetry and social commentary. Afsoon also weaves cultural histories in her practice that evolves out of an intuitive contact with her medium. She reframes familiar narratives in unexpected ways that are both playful and visually captivating.

Afsoon, His Devilish Smile, 2025. Ceramics glaze on wood stand, 9 x 7 x 7.5 cm. Courtesy of the artist

Afsoon, All in Blue, 2025. Ceramics, glaze on wood stand, 7 x 6 x 6.5 cm. Courtesy of the artist.

Her intimate dialogue with clay celebrates its malleability and unpredictability - using hand-sculpting and experimental glazing techniques, she coaxes out distinct personalities, rendering each piece a singular character in her visual narrative. The Family Portraits series embodies this tactile curiosity, blurring the line between art object and relic.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Afsoon (b.1961, Tehran) is an Iranian artist with a life story spanning Iran, California, and London, where she has been based since 1988. Her art beautifully blends Eastern and Western influences through a combination of text, images, linocuts, and photography to produce acutely multicultural works. With a deeply personal yet universally applicable approach, Afsoon's art engages audiences with its layers of interpretation, balancing humour, playfulness, and sophistication.

In 2025, Afsoon took part in a group show, Small Bones of Courage, at Spazju Creative, Malta. She has shown extensively worldwide, with notable exhibitions at Shirin Gallery, New York and Asia House, London. Her work is held in renowned collections including the British Museum and LACMA.

Portrait of Afsoon. Courtesy of the artist.