ArtDayMe : Azadeh Jafarian — “The Silence of Shadows”, a solo exhibition of paintings by Wahed Khakdan, is currently on view at Mah Gallery in Tehran. This thought-provoking collection of neo-realist works, rendered through a surreal lens, revisits a forgotten world of memory, objects, and contemporary solitude.

Khakdan’s pictorial realm is deeply rooted in childhood, nostalgia, and recollections that have accompanied him throughout his artistic journey. Through masterful technique and poetic sensibility, he creates atmospheric scenes where everyday objects—dolls, faded photographs, withered flowers, and ownerless garments—are transformed into evocative subjects, narrating tales of absence, loss, and longing.

In Khakdan’s canvases, time appears suspended. The viewer encounters moments of hidden life, rendered in utter stillness. Peeling walls, golden ambient light, creased fabrics, and intricate play with depth and perspective are hallmark elements that not only captivate the eye but also draw the viewer into an emotional and introspective voyage.

In Khakdan’s world, human absence speaks louder than presence—faces are unseen, hands are clasped or hidden, and objects have taken over the role of silent narrators.

One of the exhibition’s significant strengths lies in the compelling, story-driven curatorial approach of Shahnaz Khansari, director of Mah Gallery. Her presentation leads the viewer from one painting to the next with growing emotional momentum.

“The Silence of Shadows” is more than an exhibition—it is a sensory passage through forgotten emotional layers, personal nostalgia, and collective memory. Khakdan masterfully reveals how detail and visual metaphor can forge a shared language between painting and viewer—a language built from silence, shadow, and memory.

The exhibition was attended by numerous notable figures, including Mohammadreza Ghaemmaghami, founder of Raha Gallery Collection, Lili Golestan, Seyed Mohammad Beheshti, Behnam Kamrani, and others.

To mark the occasion, a book on Wahed Khakdan was unveiled, published by Karnameh Publishing House. Additionally, a film by Ali Jalali, produced by Momken Projects, was screened over two days at Mah Gallery.

“The Silence of Shadows” runs through August 13 at Mah Gallery in Tehran. Art lovers are invited to engage with this unique visual experience.