The Melody Beneath

JO VAN DE LOO Gallery, 2024

The Melody Beneath tells a story of time. Time that accompanies us, as well as that which lies behind us. In her works, Marjan Baniasadi approaches the cosmos of time through the world of imagery and motifs. Similar to Persian carpet weaving, these patterns and motifs symbolise not only the time it takes to create them, but also the stories and memories they bear witness to in our living rooms. They represent a plan of a garden, a timeless place that will last for generations. And they are also representatives of the decay caused by time, which they themselves are not spared. 

Like carpets, Baniasadi’s works tell the confrontation with time. The subject of their abstraction is personal experience. The negotiated time is universal. It applies to us as well as to the weaver, whose life is determined by the rhythmic rattling of his loom. The process of carpet weaving is a metaphor for human existence: labour-intensive, patient and precise. Every thread in the carpet bears witness to the dedication and skill of the weaver, just as our experiences and memories are woven into the fabric of our lives. This interplay of time, memory and craftsmanship is central to Baniasadi’s artworks.

The subject of her paintings are personal experiences – permanence, memories and constant change. Each work serves as a canvas on which the temporal narratives of the patterns are reinterpreted. Her visual language transcends the concrete and invites viewers to engage with the abstract concepts of time and history. Baniasadi’s combination creates a resonance whose sound becomes audible on closer inspection, like a melody beneath.  

Text: Roman Toulany