Yasaman Nozari – A Small Ocean Swallowed
Inspired by Belgium's cultural diversity, Yasaman Nozari merges her Iranian roots with modern European influences. This fusion gives rise to an abstract visual language that, through a powerful color palette—magenta, orange, vibrant green, and blue—creates an emotional and spiritual impact.
Nozari’s works transcend cultural boundaries, resonating on multiple levels by blending shapes, colors, and lines into an almost meditative aesthetic.
With the exhibition A Small Ocean Swallowed, we present for the first time the abstract, vibrantly coloured paintings of Yasaman Nozari. The works of the Iran-born artist living in Ghent captivate with their emotional depth and open up a visual world shaped by universal themes such as love, freedom, justice, and knowledge.
With powerful and radiant colours deeply rooted in Iranian art traditions, Yasaman Nozari develops a modern, abstract visual language that transcends cultural boundaries. Known for her bold colour palette of magenta, orange, vibrant green, and the multi-layered nuances of blue, she creates compelling paintings that resonate on emotional, intellectual, and spiritual levels. Her work connects the artistic traditions of her Iranian heritage with influences from modern Europe. Inspired by Belgium’s cultural diversity, she has developed a unique visual language of shapes, colours, and lines that unfolds a nearly meditative quality.
Yasaman Nozari was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1991. She holds a Master’s degree (2023–2025) from KASK & Conservatory, Master of Fine Arts, Ghent, Belgium, and a Bachelor’s degree (2011–2016) from the University of Tehran, Faculty of Fine Arts. Her works are gaining increasing recognition in the contemporary art scene and have been exhibited in solo and group shows since 2013 in Iran, Belgium, and the USA.
We warmly invite you to explore this exceptional exhibition and be inspired by Yasaman Nozari’s luminous compositions.
Yasaman Nozari: A Small Ocean Swallowed
“Painting is like music, in that you can’t talk about it very well. You have just got to listen to music. That’s all. And you have just got to look at paintings.”
— David Hockney
The beauty of Yasaman Nozari’s abstract work lies in its openness to interpretation. Each viewer can take from it what they wish. Our attraction to her art stems from its ability to engage us on multiple levels—emotional, intellectual, and even spiritual. It challenges perception, stimulates imagination, and offers a unique form of visual and emotional expression. Five different people might look at Nozari’s work and see five different things.
Her works not only demonstrate technical skill but also embody a unique cultural synthesis, reflecting her journey from the rich artistic traditions of Iran to the diverse, contemporary context of Europe. Her signature palette—magenta, orange, and sap green—forms the core of her work, interwoven with radiant blue in all its variations. These colours create rhythm and movement, while also exploring universal themes of balance and connection. Love, freedom, justice, and knowledge are central abstract concepts within her practice.
Nozari’s colourful abstract compositions, reminiscent of Kandinsky’s stained-glass works, are infused with an almost spiritual energy. Through shapes, colours, and lines, she creates a visual language that conveys powerful ideas. Her paintings evoke a wide spectrum of emotions, inviting viewers to connect on multiple levels. The translucent, light-filled quality of her work reflects a sensitivity to the interplay between materiality and emotion, transforming her canvases into luminous meditations on form and meaning. The resulting works radiate vitality, creating a sense of harmony that feels both spontaneous and intentional.
Belgium, with its rich art history and multicultural environment, has provided fertile ground for Nozari’s artistic development. The country’s vibrant art scene and openness to diverse influences have encouraged her to explore new themes. Her time in Belgium has also been marked by growing recognition, with her paintings exhibited in galleries dedicated to modern and abstract art and praised for their ability to imbue abstraction with deep meaning and radiant expressions of emotion and spirit.
— Mamuka Bliadze
