Abbas Zahedi: 11 & 1

1 Jun-11 Jun 2021

Overview

Welcomed with sound, 11&1 is an open invitation to congregate, to drop in, to breathe. For 11 days the galley’s space will be transformed, given new atmospheric hapticality, in celebration of Abbas Zahedi’s first artists’ publication and solo exhibition with Belmacz.

Abbas Zahedi works with and through space: that “continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied.” Derived from the Latin (Proto-Indo-European) spatium “to stretch, to pull”, Zahedi bends space, expanding what is seemingly known, in order to allow something a/effective to happen.

Following Zahedi’s recent solo exhibitions How To Make A How From A Why? (South London Gallery, 2020) and Ouranophobia SW3 (2020 – 21), 11&1 can be seen as a formative point of becoming in Zahedi’s exhibitionary praxis. As a moment of theory-informed action, the exhibition weaves together the mathematical approach ‘difference of two squares’ (a method of factorising, developed by Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi) and postmodern logics that counter metanarratives of ‘common sense’ linearity; Deleuzean thought in particular.

Morethan (>) elongating and entwining these seemingly un-assimilative discourses through some ‘Altermodern’ mannerism, Zahedi fabricates an architectonic encounter that reworks the tissues of these academic corpora. With a site specific sound piece at its heart, 11&1 is given form through custom made macramé hangings and comfortable seating. These sensorial adornments greet viewers, welcoming them as extra-agents rather than subtracted coefficients. In other words, subjective bodies are welcomed into 11&1, expanding Zahedi’s incongruent conceptual equation, not only producing but allowing différance.  As a gesture of reciprocity, visitors will be able to deflate (in) the gallery, with 11&1 becoming a calm, introspective environment, and offshoot of Sonic Support Group — a project co-created by Zahedi and Neurofrindge. Building upon Zahedi’s recent projects, and conceptual inquiries, this act expands the exhibition space, providing a moment of respite and remediation to visitors, and indeed the gallery system.This pivotal exhibitionary moment sits around the launch of Zahedi’s first artists’ publication semi rational records of artchievement. Developed by the artist with reference to some of the theoretical mass grounding 11&1, the publication acts as a spine from which one can branch and renew.

Artists