In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Abdollah Nafisi (@Abdollah.Nafisi)
Abdollah Nafisi is a sculptor and skilled craftsman whose practice explores the relationship between nature, industry and human connection. His work draws on an interest in Western philosophy and experiences travelling alongside Iranian nomadic communities, informing a belief in the social and relational dimensions of being present.
His debut solo exhibition, I Can’t Meditate, at Staffordshire St, Peckham, runs from 16 October to 1 November 2026. Bringing together bold, tactile sculptures made from natural materials and discarded industrial waste, the exhibition invites visitors to engage through touch, sound, movement and assembly. Rather than presenting meditation as solitary stillness, Nafisi proposes connection as an alternative route to contemplation. The sculptures become prompts for play, collaboration and shared discovery, encouraging visitors to consider the space between bodies as a place where relationships emerge. Part sensory environment, part participatory experiment, I Can’t Meditate asks whether making, moving and spending time together might offer a more accessible form of mindfulness.
For more information on the work of Abdollah Nafisi go to
https://www.staffordshirest.com/
Cover image courtesy of Sergey Novikov @plus1ap
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