Sasan Nasernia

Iranian, born in 1974 in Tehran, Iran

Sasan Nasernia began his career primarily as a calligrapher and typography artist. Exploring different avenues in Persian and Arabic classical and modern calligraphy, he has since expanded his practice to include painting, print, digital work and installation. Nasernia explores many themes in his practice, playing with the tension between two opposing primordial elements of order and chaos. Sometimes borrowing from traditional Persian paintings and iconography, he immerses these elements in abstraction and ambiguity, infused with his letterforms.

Sasan Nasernia has a BFA from Azad Art University of Tehran, Iran, he employs the icons of our world – past and present - to create a visual lexicon of his own. Nasernia’s approach to calligraphy has always been a personal journey to find novel ways to create letter forms out of the most contemporary concepts. By deconstructing the rules of Arabic and Persian calligraphy and by borrowing from the earliest types of this form of art, he has developed his signature format of writing, which he playfully calls“ Crazy Kufic.” According to Nasernia“, Crazy Kufic ”and its unique characteristics allow the artist to explore the concept of fluidity and uncertainty in our natural and extramundane worlds. In his recent attempts, he tries a new approach towards the structure of his calligraphic art, where most times a text is completely devoid of meaning; while in contrast, an empty space or a simple symmetrical juxtaposition may suggest a metaphysical conjecture or even an existential "raison d’être".

BIENNALES & FESTIVALS

2022

  • Sharjah Calligraphy Biennale

2021

  • Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival

  • Larnaca Biennale

2018

  • Sharjah Calligraphy Biennale

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025

  • Kalimat Gallery, Dubai.

2022

  • Mestaria Gallery, Dubai.

2016

  • Seyhoun Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2014

  • Pro Art Gallery, Dubai

  • J+A Gallery, Dubai

2013

  • Pro Art Gallery, Dubai

2011

  • Shirin Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2009

  • Shirin Gallery, Tehran, Iran

  • Basement, Dubai

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018

  • Gallery Behnam Bakhtiar, London (Start/Saatchi Gallery)

  • Mark Borghi Fine Arts, New York, USA.

  • Iran Heritage Foundation, London. UK

2016

  • Ward Gallery, Dubai

2013

  • Seyhoun Gallery, Tehran, Iran

2012

  • Pro Art Gallery, Dubai

2010

  • Tashkeel, Dubai

  • Total Arts Gallery, Dubai

  • Tehran Art Expo, Iran

2008

  • Total Arts Dubai

  • Focus art Gallery, Dubai

  • Art Bastakya, Dubai

ART COLLECTIONS

  • Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia

  • Al Hashimi Court, Kingdom of Jordan

  • Private Collection of HH Sheikh Hamdan Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi

  • Al Tayer Private Collection, Dubai

  • Mark Borghi Gallery, New York

  • Foundation Behnam Bakhtiar, France