Events and occurrences, which have their own logic, are the accidents which Taher Nikkhah
reveals in his work and through them he discovers new layers of himself.
Taher Nikkhah Abyaneh is an Iranian artist born in Tehran, 1974. He started his artistic career by
studying painting at the Azad Art University in Tehran continued by a master degree at
L'Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, Italy, where he studied Sculpture. Currently he lives
and works in Milan.
When we were children geography was not an important lesson; it was mathematics and
literature that we were keen to learn. When we grew up everything changed. Geography became
important and defined everything else: Identity, knowledge and our shares of the world. Taher
grew up in Iran, a country full of contrasts and contradiction with socio-political climate which
its dark years of Islamic revolution and war had a huge impact on the person he became and he
believes it is demonstrated in his practice.
He is simultaneously describing paradoxical realities of his mother land and constantly
comparing it with his new home, he attempts to illustrate social realism and self expression
with an activist’s message of social discrimination.
His is constantly challenging the Western visual language with Eastern literature-based
mentality. The craft-based and everyday materials used in his work have strong roots in his
concepts and the message he intend to transfer, in one word, medium is message for him.
Taher’s practice incorporates difference medium and materials including sculpture,
performance, painting, printmaking, Installation and site specific projects. He has been actively
involved with Italian art scene as well as his hometown, Tehran.
Taher Nikkhah
