The human body, its perceptions and representations, play a central role in Shahryar Nashat's work. In his videos, sculptures and installations, the artist creates synesthetic experiences that evoke emotions and moods which are difficult to express in rational terms. Nashat shies away from definitive interpretations, exploring themes such as desire, mortality, animal instinct and art itself.

In MASI's underground space, the artist has created a site-specific project that completely alters its atmosphere. The works on display – almost all new – engage with the modified structure of the space, creating a single huge installation that visitors are invited to explore, engaging with contrasting sensations. A musical composition, a symphony of laments, fills the space and accompanies the experience of the show.

The heart of the exhibition is the video work Warnings (2024), screened on a loop on a large wall of screens.

Curated by Francesca Benini.
A project in collaboration with the Istituto Svizzero, Roma | Milano | Palermo.

Text by MASI Lugano