Superposition

Presenting Superposition, a major exhibition by Iranian artist Lohrasb Bayat (b. 1989). Running from 29 November 2024, the show features blindfolded figures captured mid-dance in marker-on-paper works that embody quantum paradoxes and human vulnerability. Inspired by Schrödinger’s cat—a quantum mechanics thought experiment where existence hovers between states—Bayat’s figures inhabit "a state of ambiguity and multiple possibilities" (Artist Statement). Their blindfolds, simultaneously symbols of limitation and liberation, invite viewers to contemplate "humanity’s capacity to confront uncertainty with a spirit both fragile and unyielding".

Bayat’s works emerge from collaborative photoshoots with artists, musicians, and creatives. Participants are blindfolded and encouraged to dance freely to curated music in Bayat’s studio, transforming vulnerability into "assumed liberation”. Each painting’s title derives from the songs played during these sessions, embedding the audio experience into visual form. The unforgiving nature of markers on paper—a medium demanding precision—mirrors the figures’ precarious balance between constraint and expression. Bayat’s meticulous linework and evocative compositions capture joy, uncertainty, and interconnectedness, creating visual testaments to shared humanity.

Rooted in Iranian duality— tradition versus modernity, visible constraints and inner autonomy —the series dialogues with global art history. The figures recall the existential tension in Goya’s The Third of May 1808 and the shrouded lovers in Magritte’s The Lovers, while echoing Rumi’s mystical poetry where movement symbolises transcendence. Bayat’s technique varies: sharp, defined lines contrast with softer strokes to evoke dreamlike qualities, reflecting emotional tonal shifts. Stark negative space and rhythmic compositions create a visual echo of movement, akin to a visual glitch that underscores life’s transience.

The exhibition functions as a communal space where viewers are drawn into a collective rhythm of uncertainty and harmony. Bayat’s work challenges audiences to re-examine freedom and identity’s boundaries.