Behnam-Bakhtiar’s paintings envision the construct of life and humanity, suspended in time. In his work, the artist juxtaposes interpretations of his connection to life and signifies of a vital and necessary perspective on the world and human processes. With intricately layered works, in many of his recent canvases, he adopts a sustainable approach, embracing recycled and natural pigments as well as the use of untreated canvas and sustainably sourced chassis, which he augments by incorporating natural medium sourced from areas where he creates the works. A pioneering and conscious shift that considers the footprint of an artwork and its physical impact on the world’s environment while creating a sensory experience for the viewer. In his signature style of peinture raclée, or scraped painting, the artist continually creates a deeper abstract window into a visual representation of humanity’s true strengths and identity, exploring the power and potential of one’s energy, and its ability to lead us into a necessary human evolution.

Since 2016, Behnam-Bakhtiar has increasingly practiced his signature style of work, creating paintings which reflect the layers of one’s journey through life, meditating on the fine dance of energy, feelings and time. He paints from one layer to another, repeatedly sculpting and de-layering the canvas, for several months to years, physically manifesting the human experience. These multi-layered works reference a prosperous way of life, human consciousness leading to evolution, and awakening to the experience of positive emotions, at times despite adversity. The overlapping layers of pigments are masterfully applied bringing forth complex compositions that are directly related to the artist’s experience of life. Searching for primal creative experience, Behnam-Bakhtiar avoids preliminary planning or sketching, confronting the viewer instead with an unmediated dialogue between colour and gesture that presents a powerful impact and connection through a living experience of each oeuvre.

Behnam-Bakhtiar’s mixed media paintings are created in his signature style of peinture raclée involving an intricate style of scraping, relaying and spreading of numerous blends over particular points. For the artist, these represent layers of energy, feelings and time.

Engineering alchemy using natural and recycled pigments, as well as natural locally sourced mediums, Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar brings forth an unparalleled creative process with shapes and rhythms emerging or disappearing into the works’ interlocking patterns. At a first glance references could certainly be established from Behnam-Bakhtiar’s works to the artists of different epochs from Paul Signac and Claude Monet to Joan Mitchel and Jean Paul Riopelle, who have integrated various representations of light, energy and landscapes in paintings. However, Behnam-Bakhtiar’s connection of his work to an interior journey edges it away from the many art-historical reference points. Behnam-Bakhtiar is less interested in setting up a relation between his works and art history, and more about enabling the individual encounter with each work. It is one that demands the attention of the viewer: to work backwards through the layers of paint, to imagine the time elapsed between them, and to transform the colour into ideas that gesture towards the invisible.

Sassan’s most recent works have been shown worldwide including solo exhibitions at Phillips London, Sotheby’s in the Principality of Monaco, Dusseldorf’s Setareh Gallery, London’s Saatchi Gallery and at the historic Villa Santo Sospir in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.