Mohammad Barrangi’s large-scale mural, titled Simorgh, was installed live by the artist live at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on September 16th-18th in the Smidt Welcome Plaza. Visitors were welcome to watch as Barrangi slowly and methodically revealed this work based on the legend of the Conference of the Birds over the course of a weekend. This special event was presented in conjunction with the artist’s September 2022 solo exhibition at ADVOCARTSY, Dreamscape. The LACMA program culminated with a panel discussion between artists Mohammad Barrangi and Yassi Mazandi on Sunday, September 18th from 5-6 pm at the Museum’s Resnick Lawn.

“We are delighted to share Mohammad Barrangi’s art and unique process at LACMA as he creates a large-scale singular composition at the museum’s center court over the course of a weekend.  Mohammad’s work to be revealed live, is based on a 12th-century Persian epic poem by Farid al-Din ‘Attar, ‘The Conference of the Birds’, which is also the inspiration for Yassi Mazandi’s dynamic sculptural installation at the north side of the Resnick Pavilion.  Both works of art evoke Attar’s powerful mystical poem universalizing the quest for meaning in life and today’s key issues of migration and human experience.”  Linda Komaroff, Curator and Department Head, Art of the Middle East, LACMA.

“We are excited to bring Mohammad Barrangi to Los Angeles for this extraordinary live creation at LACMA which will be followed by his second solo exhibition at ADVOCARTSY– titled Dreamscape.  The Conference of The Birds, Mohammad Barrangi’s first solo exhibition with ADVOCARTSY and in the United States, was held in the middle of the pandemic in November 2020 and introduced his work to collectors and museums worldwide. From The Conference of The Birds, two works on paper have been selected by LACMA for its permanent collection and a large-scale canvas depicting a flock of his signature birds has been acquired by the San Diego Museum of Art for its permanent collection. Barrangi’s upcoming live installation at LACMA promises a public showcase of his meditative process and a thrilling reveal of a large-scale piece based on that same body of work, we look forward to sharing this sensational experience with the Los Angeles community! Bringing awareness of and engagement with exceptional works by artists of Iranian origin is the core mission of ADVOCARTSY and this collaboration with LACMA is a perfect example of our mission at work– with much appreciation to Dr. Linda Komaroff for her outstanding vision and commitment to the expansion of the museum’s dialogue.” Roshi Rahnama, Founder & Director of ADVOCARTSY.

Mohammad Barrangi was born in Rasht, Iran, in 1988. Now based in the UK, he is both a globally recognized artist and a medal-winning athlete who has represented Iran internationally in the 100m sprint. Born without full mobility in his left arm, Barrangi has developed a unique artistic practice that utilizes his right hand and both feet to create his distinctive works. Blending traditional calligraphy with experimental mark-making techniques, Barrangi combines elements of Persian calligraphy, storytelling, text, and touches of humor to create intimate works on handmade paper that are selectively expanded into large-scale murals.

Barrangi holds a degree in graphic design from the Islamic Azad University of Tonekabon and recently graduated from the Royal Drawing School in London. Barrangi has extensively exhibited his work around the world, winning numerous awards and recognition that has led to the prolific publication of his illustrations in a variety of books. His works have been acquired by the permanent collections of the British Museum, the Royal Family Collection, the National Government Collection in the UK, the San Diego Museum of Art in the USA, as well as the Cluj Napoka Art Museum in Romania.  In addition, LACMA has selected two of Barrangi’s works on paper for their permanent collection.