In Angels in Combat, her first solo show in the UAE, Amighi alludes to the beauty, decadence, violence and tranquility that can be found in the modern history and culture of her birthplace.

The show includes three shadow works, Angels in Combat I, Hallway and Angels in Combat II, presented as a triptych in which the artist uses the nuances of light and shadow to create complex and engaging designs. Clearly nourished by the Islamic visual tradition, the works delicately reveal unusual details whose violent suggestions collide with the purity and the peace of the work. Her hanging sculptures Rocket Gods mock ornate chandeliers in the sleek finish of their fine chains. The slender shapes hang high in the air, their strange presence suggest missiles or bullets, bringing up underlying narratives of tension and conflict. Here we are presented with a series of modern day gods whose violence has secured our opulence and wealth. The paradoxical Floorpiece, consisting of metal chain and bead laid on the floor shaped into motifs found in traditional Persian carpets, generates feelings of seductive beauty and imminent danger. The viewer is invited to look closely but not permitted to tread.

Amighi skillfully toys with viewer’s insecurities and cultural stereotypes while producing a subtle echo to the extremely tensed political situation towards Iran today.

Preview of ‘Angels in Combat’ with the presence of artist
Date: Sept. 20, 2010
Time: 7.30 - 9.30pm