Ali Akbar Sadeghi graduated from the College of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran in 1958.
Since then, Sadeghi has dabbled successfully in various forms of art.
He is well known for his watercolour and oil paintings and is also an accomplished illustrator, animator, graphic artist and an award-winning film director.
In 1977, the artist stopped making films and devoted himself entirely to painting and is today Iran's most famous surrealist painter.
His unique style of ‘Iranian Surrealism' is based on the forms and compositions of traditional Persian miniature paintings.
His canvasses are replete with Persian iconography, cultural motifs, symbols and mythological characters.
“As a student I was influenced by the work of great surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Magritte, but my own paintings are always inspired by Persian legends and the philosophy behind those ancient stories.
There are elements of surrealism in our traditional miniatures, particularly in the relationships between various objects and motifs and the stories behind them.
My style is a modern interpretation of these classics,'' says Sadeghi.
“But I believe that it is important for an artist to keep changing and evolving.
"That is why I have experimented with various media and styles throughout my career,'' he adds.
And indeed, each of Sadeghi's series of paintings is quite different in look, yet all his work has his unmistakable witty, incisive, surrealistic touch.
But four years ago the artist went into a deep depression and stopped painting.
“Like Picasso, I too had a blue period,'' he says with a smile. He coped by writing poetry.
His poems were about the vicissitudes of life and the eternal cycle of death and regeneration one observes in nature.
These poems later became a source of inspiration for a new series of paintings.
It is this series that the artist has brought to Dubai for his first ever exhibition in the city at the B_ASEMENT gallery.
Titled Euphoria, the vibrant oil paintings exude a wonderful sense of energy and joy.
The canvasses are filled with brightly coloured birds, butterflies, hatching eggs, blooming flowers and sprightly vines that symbolise life, freedom, rejuvenation and celebration.
The flawless technique and immense detailing of the master are impressive.
But what is truly special about Sadeghi's work is the surrealistic twist he provides to what could well be a traditional Persian painting.
Whether it is one blue egg yolk amidst a mass of yellow ones, birds morphing into trees or a depiction of the four seasons that can be viewed from all four sides, his interpretation of every theme is at once humorous and thought provoking.
“With this series I have changed the language of my brush. Although the style is similar to my early classical look, I have used much brighter colours to express freshness, vitality and happiness,'' he says.
The exhibition also includes some paintings from an earlier series titled Coalition.
Unlike the traditional Persian imagery of the Euphoria series, this series has a contemporary, abstract look.
Using apples, arrows, bullet holes and specific colours as symbols of freedom, love, war and the flags of certain global powers the artist makes compelling statements about manmade conflicts and the need for intercultural harmony.
In Sadeghi's signature style, the paintings extend from the canvas onto the frames creating a three dimensional effect.
Also part of the exhibition is one painting from Sadeghi's famous series titled Knights.
A stunning self portrait of the artist dressed in shining armour, this painting from Sadeghi's personal collection, speaks volumes about his versatility.
And the realistic band-aid painted on the dashing knight's hand is a tribute to the artist's mastery over his medium and his unique perspective of the world.
Although his work is rooted in Iranian history and culture, Sadeghi's message goes beyond the boundaries of his country.
“An artist and his art do not belong to any one country or city. Through my work I want to convey a message of peace, prosperity and happiness to the whole world,'' he says.
“Although I have exhibited in many countries around the globe and in this region, I am excited to be in Dubai because I believe in moving forward and this is a city of progress and modernisation.
I am happy with the response I have received from art lovers here and I will definitely be back with a fresh series of dangling installations,'' he adds.
Jyoti Kalsi is UAE-based arts enthusiast.
Euphoria runs at B_ASEMENT gallery until August 9.
