Originally from Tabriz, Iran, and now based in Brooklyn, brothers Saman and Sasan Oskouei, long known as Icy & Sot, made a name for themselves with their engaging stencils in public spaces. Since the 2000s, their work has addressed borders, migration, inequality and the environment through a multi-disciplinary practice - installations, sculptures, videos and in situ interventions - always at the service of a message. Their work includes EU FLAG in Lisbon (2020), Bricks of a Revolution in New York (2022) and the A Moment of Clarity exhibition at Amsterdam's MOCO Museum.
At Galerie Danysz, the Oskouei brothers present Flora Urbanica, an exhibition in which nature reclaims its rights, not in a militant explosion, but in a poetic murmur. The two artists have created a plastic language that blends raw materials, environmental reflection and contemplative gentleness.
" Flora Urbanica continues our work on environmental issues, but with a more subtle approach than a direct, frontal message," they explain. "The works serve as a metaphor for the resilience and adaptability of nature in the urban landscape. They invite everyone to meditate on their own cohabitation with the living."
A far cry from their early days in Iranian street art, the Oskoueis claim a transition to gallery work, which allows them to weave more nuanced narratives:
"Our street art journey ended almost ten years ago. In a gallery, we can explore a subject through a collection of works, which offers us a more coherent and richer narrative. The message then becomes more profound. In this exhibition in particular, we want above all to evoke a feeling - one of calm or relaxation."
This emotional depth draws on an imagination forged in childhood by contact with the mountains of Tabriz, which they evoke with tenderness:
"Nature is a constant in our work. It has always offered us a form of freedom, even when we were living in a constrained environment. This exhibition is, in a way, an extension of that original interest."
Among the works presented, Urban Bloom stands out for its deceptive simplicity. "The process behind Urban Bloom was to borrow an idea directly from the city. By bringing something into the exhibition space that we might overlook in our daily lives, we refocus the viewer's attention." Made from wood, plants and a concrete-like textured coating, the installation forms a dialogue between raw material and organic softness.
The message remains clear: "We wanted to highlight the relationship between nature and the city, and encourage visitors to stop for a moment and reflect on our coexistence with living things. In a world beset by environmental crises, this exhibition can offer a peaceful space for contemplation."
On view until May 10 at Galerie Danysz in Paris https://danyszgallery.com
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