Titled “Spaces Of Hope“, the mural takes us into an uncanny dreamscape and captures a fundamental quality of Ghadyanloo’s work: his perspective on the nuanced nature of hope, fear, and uncertainty about the future. Gazing upwards as one, the figures in the mural move forward with purpose; it is impossible to know how many have come before them and how many wait behind. Will they reach their destination? Will they escape the labyrinthine of darkness they are trapped in and move into the light?
What is waiting for them beyond? Though offering them the chance to escape, the red balloons could burst at any moment.
Drawing inspiration from his upbringing in Tehran and the local context of Boston, Ghadyanloo is interested in opening a window to the universal experience and feelings that people all over the world share. His public murals are part of the fabric of the city, creating a dialogue with the people who surround them as their daily experiences become part of his expansive composition. Bright colors and stark use of light and shadow communicate across continents, weaving a narrative between our dreams that binds us together and speaks with joy of what remains glorious in gloomy times.