Sting Therapy Series Oil Painting

This oil painting questions traditional symbolism through layered references and satirical nods to iconic art history moments

Artwork Description

 about this oil painting

Themes drawn from theology or symbolic language appear in many of Hamed's artworks. However, they are often positioned to provoke doubt about their original meaning and purpose. Rather than offering direct interpretation, he builds a critical atmosphere within each work. This space invites viewers to question assumptions and reflect on underlying concepts.

He avoids making clear statements and instead presents suggestive arrangements of historical and cultural symbols. Hamed uses this ambiguity as a way to stimulate thought, not provide fixed answers. His practice encourages the audience to assess meaning actively rather than passively consume visual content.

He engages in subtle acts of appropriation, borrowing from iconic moments in art history. But he also diverges from their traditional readings and widely accepted interpretations. He references and mocks historical masters through visual cues, satire, and ironic composition. This strategy draws attention to the weight of art history and the authority of those it has elevated.

Through these references, Hamed demands close observation and slow reflection from the viewer. He wants the audience to interact with the work, not just admire it. This form of confrontation creates a thoughtful and often unsettling visual experience.

Bees appear frequently in his paintings and installations, altering the mood and meaning of each setting. These bees introduce mythic elements that layer over historical or painterly backdrops. This contrast gives rise to new narratives about culture, memory, and creative resistance.

By placing modern pop references against canonical imagery, he critiques the rigidity of art traditions. His work explores how new life emerges from tension between sacred legacy and playful intervention. This dialogue reveals how the past may still shape, limit, or inspire the art of today.

Hamed began sketching and drawing caricatures as a teenager in his early artistic years. He soon transitioned to painting and has remained committed to this medium ever since. In 2019, he received the Biafrin Award at the NordArt Festival for his original vision. Since then, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Iran and internationally. In 2021, he held a solo exhibition titled Sting Therapy at Shirin Gallery in Tehran.

His dedication to oil painting is rooted in a deep respect for the craft and its legacy. This commitment reflects the teachings and traditions of great painters who came before him. He references these predecessors not only in style but sometimes directly in subject matter. By doing so, he acknowledges their influence while continuing to question their untouchable status.

Hamed Norouzi’s approach is both reverent and subversive, thoughtful yet visually bold. He merges irony and respect, classicism and critique, to create a deeply contemporary artistic voice.

View the full Dubai collection of paintings here

copyright

This oil painting is one of a kind original therefore, all copyrights and reproduction rights are reserved by the artist.