The sixth edition of the Iranian Contemporary Art Biennale, titled WITH MY ROOTS, has opened at Mall Galleries in London, featuring works by Iranian and diaspora artists across painting, photography, sculpture, installation, and video. The exhibition explores themes of identity, displacement, and cultural continuity against a backdrop of ongoing conflict and political uncertainty, with standout pieces by Soheila Golestani, Paria Shahverdi, Sahaar (Sahar-Khosrojerdi), Negin Baghery, Mohammaz Reza Zabihi, and Dina Abdose.
This biennale matters because it offers a nuanced counterpoint to geopolitical narratives surrounding Iran, focusing instead on personal memory, psychological states, and emotional disorientation. By foregrounding intimate and surreal visual languages over direct political commentary, the exhibition highlights the resilience and complexity of contemporary Iranian art, while also connecting to broader art-world conversations—such as the influence of Constantin Brancusi on Negin Baghery's sculptures. It provides a vital platform for Iranian artists both inside and outside the country, asserting the importance of cultural continuity in times of upheaval.