Fidelity (Part 1)

Amirhossein Bayani

“A subject is nothing other than an active fidelity to the event of truth.” —Alain Badiou
It is all about the idea of emancipation; if we are to talk about politics, we should talk about the politics of emancipation. That is, politics saturated with the “event” of radical change, and thus it is vital to grasp that such politics is certainly the domain of names. Each works of this series reflect what I have imagined of the life and death of a particular person. Some died a natural death, some were tortured to death, and others were executed: only a handful from among innumerable warriors who fought for freedom throughout history. What they have in common is that they all made similar choices, and by faithfulness and fearlessness, painted a new perspective while they were keeping their eyes on truth and eventually embraced death. Like the characters of Conrad’s novels (with all their strengths and weaknesses), they perceived history as a shock, as the only salvation they knew was through fidelity. That is why Conrad regarded fidelity as the essential component of the whole existence.

Amirhossein Bayani, “M.SH.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 133 x 148 cm, 2018
Amirhossein Bayani, “H.M.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 148 x 148.5 cm, 2018
Amirhossein Bayani, “K.D.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 114 x 148 cm, 2017
Amirhossein Bayani, “S.S.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 137 x 150 cm, 2017
Amirhossein Bayani, “V.S.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 147.5 x 148 cm, 2019
Amirhossein Bayani, “B.J.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 144.5 x 150.3 cm, 2018
Amirhossein Bayani, “H.A.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 133 x 150 cm, 2018
Amirhossein Bayani, “T.A.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 144.5 x 148 cm, 2018
Amirhossein Bayani, “KH.G.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 114 x 148.5 cm, 2017
Amirhossein Bayani, “M.K.”, from “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, oil on board, 137 x 148 cm, 2018
Amirhossein Bayani, “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, installation view, 2019
Amirhossein Bayani, “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, installation view, 2019
Amirhossein Bayani, “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, installation view, 2019
Amirhossein Bayani, “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, installation view, 2019
Amirhossein Bayani, “Fidelity (Part 1)” series, installation view, 2019